After a complex security and intelligence operation, Israeli security forces have caught the terror cell responsible for the brutal shootings of Rabbi Eitam and Naama Henkin last Thursday night, it was cleared for publication Monday.
Five terrorists were arrested, all of whom are Hamas terrorists from Shechem (Nablus), via a joint operation between the Israel Security Agency (ISA or Shin Bet), IDF, and Israel Police. Several other terrorists involved with the cell were also arrested.
Security sources leaked Saturday night that an operation was underway, but details about the terrorists have now been released for the first time.
The terrorists responsible have been named as:
- Raeb Ahmad Muhammad Alivi, 37, terror cell leader. Recruited other terrorists, instructed them to implement attacks and provided them with weapons;
- Yahya Muhammad Nayif Abdallah Haj Hamed, 24. Carried out the shooting in this attack and other attacks;
- Samir Zahir Ibrahim Kusa, 33, took part in the three attacks as a driver;
- Karam Lutfi Fathi Razek, 23, fired during the attack with a pistol but was accidentally shot by another Hamas terrorist during the attack
- Zir Ziad Jamil Amar, 31, who ensured that the roads were clear to carry out the attack.
After confirming via Amar that the roads were clear, Muhammad, Kuda, Hamad, and Razek left Shechem in search of Israeli civilians to kill; they then saw the Henkin car outside Beit Furik and began firing.
After stopping the car, two of the terrorists then exited and approached the driver's side and passengers' seat, shooting both occupants at close range.
Razek accidentally shot the hand of a fellow terrorist in the cell during the attack, causing him to drop his rifle at the scene; the rifle was found by IDF forces and used as part of the investigation.
The five then fled back to Shechem.
The terror cell has also been involved in two shooting attacks which caused no casualties - an attack on an Israeli vehicle near the entrance to Kedumim (near Jit junction in Samaria) in mid-August, and another, unnamed attack.