Israeli military says troops have confiscated more than 240 firearms, ammunition, and weapon-manufacturing equipment since the start of 2026, uncovering caches hidden inside civilian buildings in Bethlehem and Nablus. The owners of both sites were arrested.
The IDF reported Monday that since January 2026, troops operating in Judea and Samaria have confiscated more than 240 firearms alongside lathes, ammunition, and other terrorist equipment. The military described the seizures as evidence of ongoing efforts by terrorist groups to embed themselves within civilian infrastructure.
Two specific operations were highlighted. In April, soldiers in the Etzion Regional Brigade discovered ammunition for both long-barreled and short-barreled weapons hidden inside a hardware store in Bethlehem; the store's owner was arrested. More recently, in Nablus, within the Samaria Regional Brigade, troops located a lathe used to manufacture weapons at the center of a civilian building; the owner was also apprehended.
The military released footage of the weapons found in various locations across the area, adding that Israeli forces will continue counterterrorism operations in the region. The announcement comes amid a sustained campaign against weapons proliferation in the area, which The Zioneer has covered extensively in recent weeks — including the destruction of 18 weapon-production lathes in the Nablus area on June 16, and the seizure of rifles and cash in intelligence-driven operations in Hebron and Bethlehem on June 14.
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
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