Cave of Machpelah in Hevron (illustration)
Cave of Machpelah in Hevron (illustration)Flash 90

The IDF, along with the Israel Security Agency (ISA, also known as the Shin Bet or Shabak) and Israel Police have arrested a number of terrorists from Hevron, including two brothers, who were involved in a number of attacks.

Over recent months, the group shot at civilians and soldiers in the area and wounded four Israelis in total.

The attacks were notable for their religious aspects. They shot two Jewish men while the were praying and frequently attacked IDF soldiers near the Tomb of the Patriarchs. After each attack, they hid their weapons in the al-Mujahideen Mosque in Hevron.

During interrogation, the suspects gave up the makeshift sniper rifle that was used in the attacks, as well as a "Carl Gustav" style sub-machine gun.

The two brothers are identified as 23-year-old Nasser Faisal Mohammed Badawi, a member of Hamas, and 33-year-old Akhram Faisal Mohammed Badawi.

Nasser was detained for questioning last month, after which Akhram continued shooting at civilians in order to make authorities think that they had caught the wrong person.