The IDF reports confiscating more than 240 firearms and additional weapon-manufacturing equipment since the start of 2026 in operations across Judea and Samaria. Troops uncovered caches in a Bethlehem hardware store and a civilian building in Nablus, where lathes for manufacturing weapons were found; both site owners were arrested.
The IDF released new details on Monday evening providing a comprehensive update on weapon seizures in Judea and Samaria since January. Over 240 firearms, ammunition, and terrorist equipment have been confiscated, including lathes used to manufacture weapons. The military highlighted two specific cases: in April, troops found ammunition for long-barreled and short-barreled weapons hidden inside a hardware store in Bethlehem; the store owner was apprehended. In recent months, a lathe for manufacturing weapons was located inside a civilian building in Nablus; the site owner was also arrested. The IDF stated that these findings demonstrate attempts by terrorist groups to embed themselves within civilian areas and exploit civilian infrastructure for terrorist purposes, and that operations will continue to safeguard Israeli civilians. The confirmation follows The Zioneer's previous reporting on June 16, when Yahalom special forces destroyed 18 weapon-production lathes in the Nablus area, and subsequent related seizures in Hebron, Bethlehem, and the Jordan Valley. The current update is the first to quantify the year-to-date total of more than 240 firearms.
2 developments
- DevelopingSecurity forces seize rifles, ammunition, and tens of thousands of dinars in Judea and Samaria
- StrongIDF's Yahalom unit destroys 18 weapon-production lathes in Nablus area overnight
- StrongIDF displays weapons cache seized in Majdal Zoun, southern Lebanon
- StrongIsraeli forces stop weapons smuggling in Jordan Valley, arrest Bethlehem suspect
Source and signal
- Internal intake