Underground excavation found near Hebron attacker’s home
During a counterterrorism operation in Hebron on Sunday, IDF soldiers uncovered an underground excavation near the home of one of the terrorists involved in Friday’s deadly shooting attack.
Staff Sergeant Ron Yonatan Roytman and Sergeant Yuval Shai Svilem fell in the attack, and additional soldiers were lightly injured. Accounts differ on the attack’s precise location, identifying Judea Junction and the city of Hebron.
The excavation, approximately 15 meters deep and 75 centimeters wide, was found during searches of more than 500 buildings, structures and other sites. An initial assessment indicated that it appeared to have no exit.
The military said it was located deep within Hebron, with no Israeli communities nearby, and posed no threat to Israeli communities in the area.
An “electronic device” found inside the shaft was transferred to security forces for examination. The excavation and its findings remain under investigation by the relevant professional authorities. Footage accompanying the report showed soldiers locating it.
The operation is continuing in the neighborhood where the two gunmen lived. Forces are searching sites, apprehending suspects and seizing weapons and illegal vehicles.
The IDF said approximately 50 suspects had been detained for questioning and two guns seized. The raid has displaced more than 2,000 Palestinian residents.
Five terrorists arrested in Qabatiya operation
The IDF said soldiers from the Paratroopers Reconnaissance Unit arrested five terrorists during an operation last week in Qabatiya, in the Menashe Brigade sector. Three were affiliated with Hamas and two with Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
In a separate counterterrorism operation led by the Binyamin Brigade, soldiers from the Paratroopers Brigade’s 202nd Battalion raided more than 50 targets, searched for weapons and questioned suspects affiliated with Hamas.
The military said both operations formed part of the Judea and Samaria Division’s continuing defensive and offensive counterterrorism activity.
First families move into Shalem near Elon Moreh
The first families moved into the new community of Shalem in Samaria about a day before the elections. It is the ninth community established under the Samaria Regional Council’s Connecting Plan.
Council head Yossi Dagan told them:
“You are the first pioneers—thousands will follow in your footsteps.”
