Though media reports had said that Shalabi was a known Hamas supporter, the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) said he was not affiliated with any terror group. According to a report from Walla News, Shalabi was radicalized in the United States, where he lived for several years and began to support Hamas. Nevertheless it is believed he acted alone and without the support of the Gazan terror group.Shalabi, a father of seven, is reported to be a successful businessman.In the four days since the attack took place, security forces had been focusing their manhunt in the Nablus area and had closed off the village of Akraba where the car used in the attack had been located. Dozens of Palestinians, many of them family members, were detained on suspicion that they had provided shelter or support for Shalabi while he was on the run.During the mapping of his home, violent clashes broke out between IDF soldiers and Palestinian youths, with troops using riot dispersal means including firing rubber bullets against the demonstrators, according to Palestinian reports. One of the largest mosques in the village was surrounded, the report added.Videos uploaded on social media showed a convoy of vehicles entering the village with garbage burning on the road.
قوات الاحتلال تقتحم بلدة ترمسعيا شمال رام الله وتداهم منزل منفذ عملية حاجز زعترة الأسير منتصر شلبي. pic.twitter.com/IGKEFupEO8
— وكالة شهاب للأنباء (@ShehabAgency) May 6, 2021
Additional clashes led the IDF to arrest Palestinians in Bethlehem's Aida refugee camp and in Silat a-Hartiya, a village northwest of Jenin, according to Walla news.
Israeli security forces have increased their alert level as a number of flashpoint events centered on Jerusalem are set to take place.
