Israeli security forces arrested three Palestinians and seized firearms, ammunition and military equipment during a raid in the Dheisheh camp in Judea on Wednesday, according to authorities. The operation involved the Israel Prison Service's Masada unit, Israel Police officers and Israel Defense Forces soldiers, who searched a compound linked to a suspected crime figure.
The forces recovered two pistols, a shotgun, magazines, ammunition, protective gear and additional combat equipment. They also recovered a BMW that investigators suspect was stolen in an armed robbery of an Arab-Israeli citizen near the Palestinian town of Ubeidiya in June. The three suspects were detained on suspicion of weapons offenses and transferred to Israel Police for further questioning.
In a separate operation in the Palestinian village of al-Ram, northeast of Jerusalem just beyond the Green Line, police officers seized two firearms and other equipment. Detectives from the Shuafat station conducted overnight searches at two locations based on intelligence, working with an IDF force. The forces recovered two pistols, a hunting rifle, Palestinian flags and a police reflective vest. Three suspects, all residents of al-Ram in their 20s, were arrested and taken for questioning.
A statement said security forces would "continue working in close cooperation to locate and thwart weapons infrastructure, combat serious crime, safeguard the security of the citizens of the State of Israel and bring those involved to justice."