CLEARED FOR PUBLICATION: The ISA (Israel Security Agency – Shin Bet) in cooperation with the IDF and other agencies during the past two months arrested 20 members of a Hamas cell operating in the Hebron region. The cell was establishing an area headquarters as well as planning attacks. Most of the 20 terrorists in custody were released in the Gilad Shalit prisoner exchange. The terrorist’s main Hamas contact was another terrorist in who operates out of Qatar. He was exiled to that country as per the conditions of his release in the Shalit release due to the heinous nature of his acts of terror.

Among the planned attacks was the adduction of Israelis to use hostages as negotiating pawns towards obtaining the release of terrorists from Israeli prisons.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)