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IDF troops overnight on Thursday arrested a number of individuals in the West Bank suspected of aiding fugitive Palestinian gunman who shot dead two Israelis earlier this month at the Barkan Industrial Park.
Ashraf Waleed Suliman Na’alwa, 23, has been on the run ever since he arrived to the offices of the Alon Group factory armed with an illegally manufactured Carlo-style submachine gun and tied up Kim Levengrond Yehezkel, 28, before shooting and killing her. He subsequently shot dead 35-year-old Ziv Hajbi.
A manhunt has been underway since the October 7 incident took place that has seen the IDF arrest a total 16 Palestinian suspects in overnight raids, the army said in a statement.
Earlier this week, Israeli security forces arrested Palestinian suspects in the northern part of the West Bank who were alleged to have badisted Na’alwa. Forces opened fire at one man’s home in Danaba who was said to have provided Na’alwa with food and shelter during his escape, no injuries were caused.
The week before, troops had erected poster throughout the nearby town of Tulkaram instructing residents to refrain from aiding the fugitive and warning them of the penalties. The posters noted the legal ramifications would include, “extended detention, home demolition and the cancellation of [work] permits for themselves and their families.”
“We will not hesitate to punish anyone who helps the suspect,” the posters added.
Days earlier, the IDF issued a demolition order for Na’alwa’s home which was handed to his parents; a policy of deterrence used by Israel in which often the homes of Palestinian terrorists who carry out attacks are demolished overnight.
Human rights groups say the measure amounts to collective punishment, with the suspects’ families forced to suffer for others’ acts.
Na’alwa’s sister Fayrouz, was also arrested during pre-dawn hours in her home in Nablus. His brother, mother and other sisters were among several people detained for questioning but were later released.
The army has launched an investigation into how Na’alwa was able to smuggle his weapon into the gated industrial park and into whether he had bound Levengrond Yehezkel with the intention of taking her hostage.
The IDF said that Na’alwa was known to security forces but had no past terror offenses and no formal ties to terrorist groups, saying it appeared to have been a “lone-wolf attack.”
Na’alwa was described by his father, who works in Israel, as “a quiet guy who didn’t look for trouble,” according to Haaretz.
Police initially suspected that the shooting may have been a revenge attack on the man’s employers, but army spokesperson Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus later called it a “terrorist attack” adding that other unspecified factors were involved.
Palestinian militant groups praised the attack, calling it revenge for Israeli “crimes” towards the Palestinians.
The Palestinian Authority Security services were said to be badisting the search for Na’alwa, a Palestinian security official told the Times of Israel.
Na’alwa was an electrician at the Alon Group factory where he carried out the attack. Levengrond Yehezkel was a secretary and Hajbi worked in accounting.
Levengrond Yehezkel, mother to an 18-month-old son, was laid to rest the evening of the attack and Hajbi, a father of three, the day after. Hundreds of mourners attended their funerals.
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