“Anyone who messes with us will very quickly understand that he will pay a painful price,” Smotrich said.
By United with Israel Staff
Israeli security forces carried out a sweeping counterterrorism operation across Judea and Samaria over the weekend, operating in some 40 villages and hundreds of locations following Friday’s deadly Hamas-affiliated shooting attack near Hebron.
The IDF, Border Police and Shin Bet operated at approximately 400 locations, with a particular focus on areas identified with Hamas, arresting around 40 suspects.
Those detained included individuals affiliated with Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, as well as suspects accused of incitement, rioting and stone-throwing.
The expanded operation followed Friday’s attack near the Yehuda Junction in southern Judea, in which Staff Sgt. Ron Yonatan Roytman, 23, and Sgt. Yuval Shai Svilem, 20, both soldiers in the IDF’s 775th Ari Battalion, were killed.
Three other people were wounded before Israeli forces eliminated the two terrorists.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said Israel’s response to the attack would extend beyond the immediate counterterrorism operation.
“Anyone who messes with us will very quickly understand that he will pay a painful price,” Smotrich said.
Smotrich said that following Friday’s deadly attack near Hebron, he ordered the immediate demolition of a number of illegally constructed buildings.
“The IDF operation in Hebron and the steps we have taken in its wake are part of a clear security doctrine: We fight terrorism with force, strengthen our hold on Judea and Samaria and build Israel’s defensive wall,” he said.
“When Judea and Samaria are secure, all of Israel’s cities are secure.”
In the Judea Brigade sector, Israeli forces operated at dozens of locations in Hebron and Halhul, arresting approximately 20 suspects.
At the same time, troops from the Etzion Brigade raided more than 70 locations across more than 10 villages. Suspects accused of planting explosive devices and advancing terrorist activity were arrested, including Hamas operatives.
In the Samaria and Menashe Brigade sectors, IDF and Border Police forces demolished memorials honoring terrorists who participated in attacks that killed Israeli civilians.
Two suspects allegedly involved in an attack on Israeli civilians in the village of Burin were also arrested, while forces located a hunting rifle in Silat ad-Dhahr that authorities said had been used by suspects in the village.
In the Binyamin Brigade sector, troops operated in approximately 15 villages and arrested Hamas-affiliated terrorists, other terror operatives and rioters.
Forces in the Ephraim Brigade sector arrested several additional suspects and carried out dozens of interrogations and searches for weapons.
Israeli security forces said they would continue proactive operations throughout Judea and Samaria aimed at preventing terrorist organizations from establishing themselves in the area and thwarting threats to Israeli civilians.
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