BICOM

What happened: Over the weekend Israel launched a series of simultaneous operations across the West Bank, targeting members of a Hamas cell.

• The operation was based on precise intelligence from the Shin Bet security service that prevented imminent terror attacks.
• The operations took place Saturday night and early Sunday morning at five different locations in the West Bank.
• In Jenin, an operation involved troops from an undercover IDF unit that arrested one armed suspect without resistance.
• A second man was arrest in a village north of Jenin also without any resistance.
• In a third operation, also in the Jenin area, a third man was arrested after an exchange of fire with the IDF.
• In Bidu, outside Ramallah, three armed Hamas operatives attacked IDF forces who subsequently shot and killed them at close range. A further eight Palestinians were arrested.
• In the village of Burqin, southeast of Nablus, another close-range shootout occurred, which was instigated by Hamas operatives inside a building, one of whom was killed. In the exchange of fire an IDF officer and a soldier were severely injured.
• IDF Chief of Staff Aviv Kohavi noted afterwards: “It was a night of thwarting important targets, which stopped the development of major terrorist attacks. These were attacks that could have been executed in Jerusalem, Netanya, Tel Aviv, Afula, or any other place.”

Context: The latest operation attests to the active presence of Hamas in the West Bank and their commitment to carry out attacks against Israeli troops and civilians.

• Along with the arrests, weapons were seized along with large amounts of ammunition.
• Over the last few days around 20 Hamas operatives have been arrested.
• The IDF also exposed the lines of communication between West Bank cells and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
• In the operation in Burqin, where the IDF soldiers were hit, the IDF is investigating the possibility that the injuries were caused by friendly fire. As of this morning, they are in serious but stable condition in hospital.
• The operations were likely coordinated to a degree with the Palestinian Authority (PA) Security Forces to avoid any confrontation with them. The PA has a vested interest in seeing Hamas weakened, though this places increased tension between them and the Palestinian population.
• Latest polling by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research shows that Hamas continues to strengthen its popularity in the West Bank. In light of the May conflict, 45 per cent think Hamas is most deserving of representing and leading the Palestinian people while only 19 per cent endorse Fatah under PA President Abbas.
• In the same poll, in a head-to-head Presidential election race Chairman Abbas would win 33 per cent of the vote and Hamas leader Haniyeh would win 52 per cent from West Bankers.

Looking forward: With additional Hamas operatives connected to the cell still at large, further arrests are expected.

• A Hamas spokesman warned: “The blood of the martyrs of Jerusalem and Jenin at dawn today will continue to fuel the continuation of our people’s revolution against the occupier and a renewed determination to uproot and sweep it from our land.”
• There remains concerns that there are also other Hamas cells in the West Bank preparing attacks on Israeli citizens.
• There is also a possibility that Hamas could respond with renewed rocket fire or other attacks from the Gaza Strip.