Despite deadly raid, additional Hamas cell members likely still on the run

• Published date: 26 September 2021
• Author: ANNA AHRONHEIM
• Publication title: Jerusalem Post, The: Web Edition Articles (Israel)

Sources said that the large and heavily armed Hamas cell that was targeted during the arrests planned to carry out attacks in the West Bank and inside Israel. The cell also planned to kidnap soldiers in the West Bank, Channel 13 reported Sunday.

While security forces have arrested some 20 militants belonging to the cell and confiscated five guns, there are additional suspects who belong to the same cell who have not yet been arrested.

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Though the IDF believes the raids struck a significant blow to the cell's plans, it is still not sure if the threat posed by the cell has passed.

Following the raids, IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Aviv Kohavi visited the Menashe Regional Brigade and held a situational assessment along with head of the Central Command Maj.-Gen. Yehuda Fuchs, Commander of the Judea and Samaria Division Brig.-Gen. Yaniv Alaluf, Commander of the Menashe Brigade Col. Arik Moyal, and other senior officers.

Kohavi called the arrests a "significant achievement" that prevented "significant terror attacks" that could have taken place in Jerusalem, Netanya, Tel Aviv, Afula and elsewhere in the country were thwarted because of the "extraordinary cooperation" of all security forces.

"We all need to remember and be reminded that these operations take place dozens of times a week. This is what produces security for the State of Israel in the Judea and Samaria area, and it is not only in this area," he said.

The raid, the chief of staff said, struck a "very serious" blow to the network...