The Israeli Army Radio reported Monday that the General Security Service (Shin Bet) foiled a Hamas attempt to kidnap an Israeli soldier in the West Bank and carry out other operations, according to the Arab World News Agency.
The radio quoted a Shin Bet statement confirming the arrest of nine people who prepared a plan to kidnap the soldier, monitor army positions, and obtain intelligence information.
According to the statement, the detainees mapped escape routes and prepared a place to hide the abductee.
The Shin Bet said that the group was from Biddu village, near Ramallah, and they had explosive devices prepared in their own laboratory.
Hamas is yet to comment on the announcement.
The German news agency quoted Palestinian sources as saying that the Israeli army forces arrested nine Palestinians during raids.
The sources added that the arrests occurred in Nablus, Jenin, and Ramallah, while an explosive device was detonated after being discovered at the Hawara checkpoint, south of Nablus.
The Israeli army forces arrested two suspects who tried to cross the security barrier in the southern Gaza Strip into Israeli territory, according to the Israeli army spokesman, Avichay Adraee.
Adraee indicated they did not have weapons and were interrogated at the scene.
