IDF: Hamas Constantly Trying to Abduct Jews in Judea, Samaria

 
by Gil Ronen

Terror organizations in Judea and Samaria – first and foremost Hamas – are constantly trying to carry out abductions of Jewish soldiers or civilians, IDF sources said Thursday.

The IDF has learned that Hamas elements in Judea and Samaria are stepping up attempts to carry out a kidnapping "in order to assist the general Palestinian struggle." They are being encouraged by Hamas's headquarters in Damascus.

Military experts estimate that the abduction planned for Judea and Samaria will not be modeled on the Gilad Shalit abduction in 2006, in that the terrorists will not seek to hold a live hostage. Instead, they would rather abduct their victim, kill him, and then negotiate for his return, while creating uncertainty regarding the hostage's condition.

The IDF has identified concrete attempts at kidnapping, but military sources said that until now, whenever an infrastructure for abducting soldiers was established, Israeli security forces foiled the plot immediately.

Recent cases in which Jewish residents of Judea and Samaria reported attempted abductions were not carried out by terror groups, the sources said, but criminally motivated carjackings.

Gil Ronen (Israel National News)

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