Israeli forces foil alleged assassination plot against defence chief Katz

Israeli security forces said they had thwarted an alleged assassination plot targeting Defence Minister Israel Katz just hours before he was due to attend the inauguration of the renewed Ganim community in northern Samaria.

According to Israeli authorities, cited by local media, the Shin Bet received urgent intelligence on Thursday evening, August 13, indicating that a trained three-member cell from Jenin was preparing to attack Katz during the ceremony. The event was also attended by Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi, MK Yuli Edelstein and Samaria Regional Council head Yossi Dagan.

The intelligence prompted an immediate operation involving the elite Yamam counterterrorism unit. Within hours, Yamam commandos deployed to Jenin, carried out rapid operational planning and simultaneously raided three locations where the suspects were believed to be hiding.

All three suspects were arrested without incident before they were able to arm themselves and were transferred to the Shin Bet for interrogation.

Investigators are also examining whether the suspects may have been planning a broader attack targeting participants at the ceremony or residents of the newly reestablished community, according to reports.

The Israel Defence Forces confirmed that Yamam commandos, acting on what it described as precise Shin Bet intelligence and operating under the command of the Menashe Brigade, arrested three wanted individuals in Jenin suspected of planning an imminent attack.

Following the arrests, Samaria Regional Council head Yossi Dagan said the alleged plot highlighted the strategic significance of renewed Jewish settlement in northern Samaria.

“The attempt to target specifically the establishment ceremony of Ganim proves just how deeply the enemy understands the strategic significance of returning to Northern Samaria,” Dagan said. “They understand that strong Jewish settlement changes the reality and strengthens the security of the State of Israel.”

Dagan said Israel's response would be to continue building and strengthening Jewish communities in the area.

By Tamilla Hasanova