Army says Palestinian security ignored requests not to harbor terror suspects.
By JPOST STAFF, AP, YAAKOV KATZidf w. bank great 298.88(photo credit: AP [file])
IDF Nahal Brigades troops surrounded the Palestinian Authority's Military Intelligence headquarters in Ramallah on Wednesday morning and arrested 18 fugitives who had been hiding there.
According to the IDF, the fugitives were responsible for perpetrating dozens of shooting attacks against Israelis.
The IDF said that despite several requests the army had made that the official Palestinian security branches not provide sanctuary for wanted terror suspects, the Tanzim terrorists were being protected in the intelligence building, and the IDF requests were completely ignored.
The army added that it would continue to operate against terror infrastructure "any place, any time."
In the raid, some 30 military jeeps surrounded the building. Troops firing stun grenades and shooting in the air called on the fugitives to surrender, then entered the compound and seized the 18 wanted men, the security officials said.
Among those taken was Khalil Shilo, a member of the Fatah-affiliated Al Aksa Martyrs' Brigades.
Shilo had been on the run for seven years, since the outbreak of the second intifada in 2000.
The operation came a week after an IDF arrest sweep through the West Bank city of Nablus.
IDF officials said that in addition to arresting the 18 fugitives, troops also found guns, grenades, pipe bombs, IDF-issue bullet-proof vests and other military equipment in the building.
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