Israel has foiled a terror cell that planned to carry out attacks in Israel, particularly targeting National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, as well as other sensitive targets, according to an announcement on Thursday morning.
According to the Shin Bet security agency, a joint operation with the IDF and Israel Police exposed the terrorist cell consisting of Arab Israelis and Palestinians from the West Bank.
Following an investigation, 11 suspects were arrested.
Bilal Nasasara, a resident of the southern Bedouin city of Rahat, was identified as heading the terror cell operating and recruiting others from within Israel. Akram Amer, a resident of Tulkarm, was identified as responsible for recruiting operatives in the West Bank.
Their targets included the Ben-Gurion International Airport, government buildings in Jerusalem, IDF bases and other secure facilities.
The plan to assassinate Ben-Gvir was described as an attack against the Kiryat Arba community in the West Bank area of Hebron, intending to use an RPG to kill him.
Furthermore, the cell tried to make contact with Hamas to sponsor, finance and direct the terror activities. According to the statement, one of the West Bank operatives made contact and was offered funding for attacks in Israel.
"This is a serious activity in the framework of which Israeli citizens together with the residents of the West Bank concocted a large-scale plan to carry out a serious terrorist activity in the territories of the State of Israel," the statement concluded.
This article was first published by i24NEWS.
