Israel security forces have arrested an Islamic Jihad in Samaria terror cell for plotting to plant bombs and shoot at Israeli civilians at Joseph Tomb (Kever Yosef).
The Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) and the IDF arrested the cell earlier this week and lifted a gag order on the operation Tuesday afternoon.
The cell received directives from Rafat Mohamed Darwish, an Islamic Jihad terrorist operating in Gaza and who is responsible for connecting the terrorist organization with operatives in Judaea and Samaria Region.
Darwish was in charge of arming the cell in order to execute the attack.
Members of the cell arrested are:
Nisim Mohammed Ramdan Rashid Damiri, 30, is of Tulkarm, located east of Netanya. Damiri has been previously arrested on multiple occasions and associated with the Tanzim terrorist group;
Mohammed Mufak Rafik Damiri, 23, also from Tulkarm (’92) and who served as a Palestinian policeman;
Yasir Gaudet Abed Zaruri, 35, a former Hamas terrorist from Shechem and who previously has been arrested; and
Aduen Padel Hassan Nazel, 24, from the village of Qabatiya, south of Jenin in northern Samaria. .
The investigation revealed that each member of the cell held a specific position, such as acquiring weapons, gathering intelligence and executing the attack.
The residents of Nablus and Qabatiya were in charge acquiring the weapons, training and logistics, while the residents of Tulkarm were responsible for executing the attack. Nisim Damiri was planning to execute the attack, and Mohammed Damiri gathered intelligence information regarding the worshipers’ activities in Joseph’s Tomb.
Zaruri admitted to agreeing to teach Nisim Damiri how to prepare an improvised explosive device (IED).
Nazel revealed he was contacted by Darwish from Gaza, who asked him to supply the cell with weapons for the attack.
The case has been transferred to the Military Court in the in the Samaria Region in order to indict the four terrorists.
IDF spokesmen added:
The investigation revealed the clear and continued intent of operatives in the Gaza Strip to recruit terrorists as well as direct and lead terror activities in the Judea and Samaria Region.