In a joint Israel Defence Forces (IDF) and the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) operation, five Palestinian suspects were arrested during October-November for planning to execute a suicide bombing in the Tel Aviv area, as well as several other terror attacks against Israeli civilians.

The suspects include a woman from Jenin, named by security forces as Yasmin Sha’aban, and four residents of the Tulkarem areas. The suspected terror operatives were in touch with an operative from Gaza, who helped instruct them on how to assemble explosives, according to the investigation.

“According to the plot that was hatched, Sha’aban was the designated suicide bomber. She was supposed to carry out the attack with an explosives belt hidden in her clothes while disguised as a pregnant Jewish woman,” the Shin Bet said.

Sha’aban had intended on receiving an entry permit into Israel for medical reasons, and exploit it to carry out a mass casualty bombing of Israeli civilians.

The suspects have confessed to planning the suicide bombing, and other terror attacks, the Shin Bet said.

Following the arrests, security forces seized a homemade M-16 rifle, a hunting rifle, ammunition, and explosive material.

The suspects intended to use an apartment in Israel and reside in it illegally as part of their preparations, the Shin Bet added. In it, the Palestinian woman was meant to put on her costume, explosives belt, and head to the Tel Aviv area.

Hamas and Islamic Jihad planned to claim joint responsibility for the attack, according to the investigation. However, there is no evidence that the central leaderships of Hamas or Islamic Jihad in Gaza were aware of this particular plot.

The suspects also confessed to planning to bomb a bus carrying soldiers and to kidnap a soldier.

Sha’aban and another suspect have been charged at the Samaria District Court with terrorism offenses.

The arrests underline “the high motivation that exists among terror operatives to carry out attacks, with an emphasis on the period after Operation Pillar of Defence,” the Shin Bet said.

The incident also sheds light on how Gazan terror organizations seek to orchestrate attacks out of Samaria, and how they help would-be terrorists arm themselves and plan attacks.

source: eipa