IDF arrests 13 Hamas-affiliated suspects, clashes erupt in Nablus

13 Hamas-affiliated terror suspects arrested, from 39 homes • Clashes break out, include stone throwing, Molotov cocktails

 Israeli security forces operating in the West Bank, August 1, 2022.  (photo credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON UNIT)
Israeli security forces operating in the West Bank, August 1, 2022.
(photo credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON UNIT)

13 Palestinian terror suspects were arrested overnight Sunday, the IDF Spokesperson's Unit announced. All are affiliated with Hamas. 

Israeli security forces operating in the West Bank, August 1, 2022 (credit: IDF Spokesperson's Unit).

A joint operation was carried out between the IDF, Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) and Border Police, working on two different fronts across the West Bank, during which clashes erupted at a number of places, including rioting by dozens of Palestinians, and stones and Molotov cocktails being thrown. 

In total, 39 homes were breached last night. No Israeli security personnel were injured; the suspects were transferred for further questioning. 

Palestinian media specifically noted clashes in Nablus when the IDF entered neighborhoods in the city. According to the reports, two people were moderately injured and taken to the Rafidia Surgical Hospital in Nablus. 

  Israeli security forces operating in the West Bank, August 1, 2022.  (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON UNIT)
Israeli security forces operating in the West Bank, August 1, 2022. (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON UNIT)

The  IDF arrested Based al-Aghbar in Nablus, according to reports. 

The military also reportedly arrested Rizk Halayka from the town of Ash-Shuyukh and Jamal Abu Al-Jadayel from the town of Al-Samo', both near Hebron. 

Also near Hebron, in the town of Surif, IDF arrested Khaled Ghunaimat and Majdi and Marwan Abu Fara, reports said, and that a man named Thaer Wajdi Safi was arrested from the Ramallah area. 

Previous IDF-Palestinian clashes

Just three days ago, IDF soldiers from the 636th Battalion thwarted a shooting attack targeting a military post at the entrance to Nablus on Thursday night. 

A squad of armed Palestinians arrived in a vehicle at one of the southern entrances to the city; one of them got out and fired at a military post in the area.

Battalion soldiers who were operating in the area returned fire and hit several of the gunmen, one of whom was arrested and sent for medical treatment.

Three gunmen were injured by IDF fire, according to Palestinian reports.

On Friday, a 16-year-old Palestinian was shot dead near a road leading to a Jewish settlement, Palestinian officials said. The army said it had opened fire to protect motorists from rioters.

Witnesses said the incident, east of the hub city of Ramallah, also involved face-offs in open fields between settlers, at least one of whom was armed, and Palestinians, with some on either side lobbing rocks at the other side.