Israel dismantles weapons cell in West Bank
Israel announced the arrest of dozens of people allegedly involved in the production of weapons in the West Bank.
RAMALLAH, West Bank — Israeli police revealed Feb. 25 the arrests of 58 Palestinians suspected of belonging to a network that transforms airsoft guns into assault rifles. The police claimed that some of these rifles were used during attacks against Israelis in the West Bank and Israel.
The Jerusalem Post cited the Israeli police spokesman as saying that most detainees hailed from Hebron in the southern West Bank. So far, seven of them have been indicted and 300,000 shekels ($87,000) have been frozen in bank accounts, according to the paper. Two airsoft weapon shops in Kfar Kinna within the Green Line and Kafarakab near Ramallah have been shut down.
Israeli police accused those arrested of purchasing airsoft weapons from Israel and buying parts online from abroad to convert airsoft weapons into M16s in underground labs.
The police clarified that they had seized, in cooperation with the Israeli Tax Authority, a product container that reached Ashdod Port through the United States carrying electrical devices and toys. Upon searching the container, they found hundreds of hidden M16 parts and combat equipment that a citizen from Adna in Hebron had purchased.
