Israeli police, the Prisons Service's Masada unit, and IDF troops raided a criminal compound in the Deheishe refugee camp near Bethlehem, seizing two handguns, a rifle, ammunition, gear, and a stolen vehicle. Three Palestinian suspects were arrested and the investigation was transferred to the police's Yehuda unit, authorities said.
Israeli security forces conducted a joint operation Wednesday afternoon in the Deheishe refugee camp, south of Bethlehem, targeting a criminal weapons cache. Police, the Prisons Service's Masada counter-terror unit, and IDF troops raided a compound, seizing two handguns (a Glock and a Ziggzauer), a hunting rifle, large quantities of ammunition, magazines, and protective gear. A BMW stolen during an armed robbery of an Israeli citizen in the Ubeidiya area last June was also recovered. Three Palestinian suspects were taken into custody and the investigation was transferred to the police's Yehuda special operations unit.
The operation adds to a sustained campaign by Israeli authorities to curb the proliferation of illegal firearms in Judea and Samaria. As The Zioneer reported on June 22, the IDF has confiscated over 240 firearms since the start of 2026, many hidden in civilian buildings. In a separate operation on June 12, police and Border Police intercepted a weapons smuggling attempt in the Jordan Valley, arresting a Bethlehem suspect. The Deheishe raid underscores the ongoing intelligence-driven efforts to dismantle weapons networks in Palestinian areas.
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