צפו: כוחות צה"ל פושטים על יטא

Israeli security forces raided the south Judean town of Yatta overnight, following the deadly terror attack in Tel Aviv. By early Thursday morning the IDF had surrounded and sealed off the village, barring movement to or from Yatta.

Soldiers surrounded the home of Muhammad Musa Mehamara, one of the two terrorists responsible for the attack, detaining relatives for questioning.

The two attackers involved in the shooting in a crowded restaurant in Tel Aviv’s posh Sarona Market are cousins, Israeli officials reported on Thursday.

Both terrorists are 21 years of age and reside in Yatta, south of Hevron.

The second terrorist has been identified as Khalid Mehamara.

IDF forces searched Muhammad Musa Mehamara’s home, though it is unclear if a similar search was conducted at Khalid Mehamara’s house.

Security officials have reported that the two had infiltrated Israel without permits and were residing in the country illegally, apparently in preparation for the attack. One of the two arrived several months ago from Jordan.

Both Hamas and the PFLP praised the attack, with the latter issuing a statement calling “the Tel Aviv attack a source of pride for our people, and a message of defiance for Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman”.