Israeli security forces conducted a large-scale overnight operation in Bethlehem, arresting 19 wanted individuals and confiscating weapons, the IDF said. Since the start of 2026, more than 250 firearms and 40 weapon-manufacturing lathes have been seized across Judea and Samaria.
The overnight operation in Bethlehem targeted wanted suspects and weapons caches, according to IDF statements. Security forces arrested 19 individuals and confiscated unspecified weapons during the sweep. The IDF's announcement did not specify when the operation concluded or whether all detainees remain in custody.
The operation is the latest in a sustained military push across Judea and Samaria. As The Zioneer reported on Tuesday at 17:04, a similar overnight sweep in Bethlehem earlier the same day also netted 19 suspects and an M-16 rifle. That report also noted troops searched some 50 structures in Bethlehem and seized two pistols in a separate raid in Tulkarm. Israeli forces have seized more than 250 firearms and 40 weapon-manufacturing lathes since January 2026, according to the military, including caches hidden in civilian structures in Bethlehem and Nablus — as The Zioneer reported on Mon Jun 22 at 19:10 Jerusalem.
The scope of Tuesday night's operation — including the number of troops involved or locations searched — has not been detailed. The IDF emphasized the operational continuity in the region, where counterterrorism raids have become near-nightly in multiple cities across Judea and Samaria.
It remains unclear whether the 19 arrested tonight are linked to specific arms-dealing networks or whether any of the weapons seized include the high-volume production lathes routinely targeted in recent weeks.
3 developments
- StrongIsraeli forces stop weapons smuggling in Jordan Valley, arrest Bethlehem suspect
- StrongIDF: Over 240 firearms seized in Judea and Samaria since January, hidden in civilian buildings
- DevelopingPolice arrest 19 Palestinians in Judea and Samaria, including fugitives and criminal suspects
- DevelopingIsraeli security forces operate overnight in multiple West Bank cities
Source and signal
- Internal intake