Israel accuses Hamas of building explosives lab in West Bank
Israel has announced that it foiled a Hamas plan to establish an explosives lab in the West Bank, warning that Hamas still seeks to extend the armed resistance from Gaza to Ramallah.
The Shin Bet revealed July 3 that it had arrested 35-year-old Fadi Abu al-Sabeh in the Israeli city of Tayibe in May. The intelligence service said Abu al-Sabeh entered Israeli territory under the pretext of receiving medical treatment, but that the Palestinian explosives expert trained by Hamas' armed wing Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades was sent to set up an explosives lab in Israel.
The news comes amid a wave of arrests in the West Bank. On July 8, the Israeli army arrested 32 Palestinians, including Hamas leaders and members as well as former prisoners, in Qalqilya, Bethlehem and Jenin.
On April 28, Israel announced that it foiled a bombing operation that a Hamas cell had planned in the settlement of Ma'ale Adumim near Jerusalem following the Israeli elections on April 9, noting that the cell had received instructions from Hamas in Gaza.
On Feb. 25, the Palestinian Authority raided a Hamas cell that planned to carry out operations inside Israel with explosive belts manufactured in Nablus after receiving $50,000 from Hamas in Gaza.
