At least twelve Arab-Israelis with alleged ties to Islamic state were arrested by Police and the Shin Bet security agency.
This comes only one day after two border police officers were killed in a gun attack carried out by supporters of IS in the northern Israeli city of Hadera.
Mourners near the fresh grave of Israeli border police officer Shirel Abukarat , who was murdered at yesterday terror attack in Hadera, at the cemetery in Netanya, March 28, 2022. (Photo by Shir Torem/Flash90)
According to the Times of Israel, local police said: “During searches at a number of suspect's homes, items were seized that could indicate support for a terrorist organisation.”
The arrests happened across small towns in the Wadi Ara area, and in the northern cities of Sakhnin, Nazareth and Umm al-Fahm said police. A total of 31 sites were searched overnight.
Two terrorists that shot and killed Border police officers, Yazan Falah and Shirel Aboukrat, both 19, in Hadera on Sunday night were from Umm al-Fahm.
The two terrorists who killed the police officers were shot dead by an undercover police unit who were eating dinner nearby.
Five other people from Umm al-Fahm were arrested shortly after the attack on Sunday. The suspects have had their custody extended by 10 days.
“The wave of arrests has begun, and it is expected to continue and even intensify in the coming days.” A police official told Israel’s channel 12 news on Tuesday.
Shin Bet and police are expecting to continue gathering suspects with ties to Islamic state after Sunday’s fatal attack, and another attack in Be’er Sheva last week, which was also praised by supporters of the jihadist group.
Israeli Prime minister Naftali Bennett has instructed security services to hold any terror suspects in administrative detention without charging them from Monday.
Prime minister Bennett’s office commented saying it should be used “In appropriate circumstances in which it is possible to present a proper legal basis.”
On top of this, security forces will be bolstered up until Independence Day celebrations, which will begin on the evening of May 4th.
