The arrests took place in southern Gaza in the early morning hours. The two terrorists were "in the final stages of preparing a large-scale terror attack [to be carried out] in the coming days," according to an IDF statement. Officials added that the operation was aimed at delivering the message that no one involved in terrorism is safe from justice.
The operation was given a Hebrew code name meaning "Desert Storm" due to its proximity to the Sufa Crossing ("Sufa" is Hebrew for "storm"). It was carried out about a half-mile from the Gaza-Israel border, on the outskirts of Rafiah.
Special Forces entered a safe house to apprehend the two Hamas terrorists, brothers Osama and Mustafa Muamar. Their father, Ali Muamar, a senior Hamas official, was lightly wounded in the operation. His, computer’s hard-drive was confiscated as well. Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri acknowledged that Muamar is a Hamas official, but claimed his two sons were not.
Osama is a doctor and recently arrived in Gaza after spending time in Sudan. His brother is a "student of Islamic law" according to Reuters. The two were handed over to Israeli security forces for interrogation.
The operation marked the third time the IDF has entered Gaza since last summer’s expulsion of Jews from Gush Katif during the Disengagement. The first operation involved clearing explosives that terrorists had placed on the PA-controlled side of the Gaza fence. Last month, three rocket-launching terrorists were killed in the second small-scale IDF operation in Gaza.
Elsewhere Saturday, IDF troops shot and wounded a wanted Arab terrorist resisting arrest in Jenin. IDF medics treated the man following his arrest.