Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) arrested three members of an alleged Hamas resistance cell in Tel town near Nablus city. The detainees were suspected of planning to kidnap an Israeli settler the Israeli Shin Bet announced on Wednesday.
Hebrew sources claimed that the leader of the cell was Muath Eshtaiyah 26 from Tel and that he planned the attempt with his cousins Mahmoud and Ahmad Ramadan both 19 and also from Tel.
According to the Shin Bet the three men planned to kidnap a soldier or a settler from one of the bus stations at a central junction in the northern West Bank. The plan was to dress up like Jewish settlers and to abduct the settler using a car.
The Shin Bet also said that the kidnapping was planned to take place mid or late December.
Hebrew sources alleged that Eshtaiyah purchased a pistol pepper spray and a stun gun in preparation for the abduction.
The Shin Bet also claimed that the planned resistance operation was funded by Omar Assida a Hamas member deported to Gaza Strip after being released from Israeli jails within Wafaa al-Ahrar prisoner swap deal in 2011.
