Hamas-Led Terrorist Cell Thwarted in West Bank

Latest Developments

Four Palestinian terrorists who were planning bomb attacks in the West Bank were killed by Israeli special forces on November 6. The deaths occurred during an Israeli raid in the West Bank city of Tulkarm.

The four men had received instruction from Hamas in the Gaza Strip and abroad, the Shin Bet and Israeli police said in a joint statement. Having already carried out several gun ambushes, the men were plotting to dispatch additional terrorists for attacks in Israel. They were also working on obtaining mortars and rockets, weapons relatively rare in the West Bank.

Expert Analysis

“As it wages war on Hamas in Gaza, Israel has been carrying out nightly raids in the West Bank and detains hundreds of Palestinian terrorists. This latest disclosure indicates to what extent Hamas remains active and ambitious in the West Bank, even as it tries to hold off the Israeli offensive in its Gaza heartland.” — Mark Dubowitz, FDD CEO

“Tulkarm has slowly emerged as a hub of terrorist operations in the northern West Bank. Organizations such as Hamas and the Fatah-affiliated al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades have taken advantage of a corrupt and weak Palestinian Authority, thus creating a Jenin-like city where Israeli forces routinely encounter strong opposition by terrorists armed with rifles and improvised explosive devices.” — Joe Truzman, Research Analyst at FDD’s Long War Journal

“Before the horrific massacres of October 7, Israelis were already experiencing their deadliest year of terror attacks since the Second Intifada. The attacks had largely been emanating from the West Bank, where Hamas and Islamic Jihad have built formidable terror networks. We can expect continued terror attacks from the West Bank as Israel battles Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and other Iran-backed terror groups in the region.” — Enia Krivine, Senior Director of FDD’s Israel Program and National Security Network

“10 Things to Know About Hamas Tunnels,” FDD Insight

“Israel Vows to Eliminate Hamas Terror Leader Yahya Sinwar,” FDD Flash Brief

“Hamas Attacks Israeli Soldiers as the IDF Prepares Safe Passage for Gazans on Main Highway,” FDD Flash Brief

“10 Things to Know About Hamas,” FDD Insight