The Shin Bet said it arrested around 40 Palestinian terrorists from Bethlehem in a major bust that thwarted imminent attacks, marking the first large-scale operation under new chief David Zini.
The Shin Bet on Thursday announced an unusually large bust of around 40 Palestinian terrorists from Bethlehem in thwarting a series of imminent major terror attacks.
According to the size of the multiple cells, the bust may be a strategic setback to Hamas and other terror groups, who may have been looking to significantly increase waves ofterror from the West Bank, at a time when they are weaker in Gaza.
The announcement also marked the first such publicly announced operation since David Zini took over running the agency on October 5.
There have been two other operations publicized by the Shin Bet, one arresting an Israeli from Tiberias for spying for Iran and one seizing weapons which Iran was trying to smuggle from Jordan into the West Bank, but no imminent terror operations on this scale.
Zini will be looking to make his mark at the head of the agency rapidly, following months of being in limbo due to a variety of political and legal battles between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the legal establishment and the opposition over his appointment.
IDF operates in the West Bank, February 23, 2025. (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON’S UNIT)
Thwarting the terror plots was a joint operation of the Shin Bet along with the IDF, and the police, with a variety of counter-terror actions taken in recent weeks.
In particular, the IDF’s reservist Etzion Brigade, along with the special forces Duvdevan and Lotar units, undertook 15 different operations, with direction from the Shin Bet, to arrest the approximately 40 terrorists.
Part of the bust included seizing the terrorists’ weapons, including such as M-16s.
Masterminds who systematically recruited and built multiple terror cells
According to the Shin Bet interrogations and probe into the plot, there were masterminds who systematically recruited and built multiple terror cells in order to carry out a series of shooting attacks against Israeli civilians and the IDF.
One of these terror cells was ready to carry out an attack imminently when the agency arrested them, said the Shin Bet’s statement.
Had the Shin Bet not intervened, the shooting attack could have carried a heavy cost in Israeli lives.
The Shin Bet said it would continue to act with other security bodies to prevent terrorists from harming the country.
Further, the agency said that it had transferred its evidence over to the IDF West Bank Prosecution to move forward with indictments against those involved in the various terror cells.