West Bank raids follow Gilad Farm shooting, nine arrested including shooter's father

Security forces arrested nine suspects in overnight West Bank raids following Friday's deadly shooting near Gilad Farm, including the father of the Palestinian attacker. The father was not alleged to be involved in the attack itself. Three suspects were arrested in Balata refugee camp in Nablus, and six others in separate operations. Charges include incitement, rioting, and smuggling.

Security forces arrested nine suspects in overnight raids across the West Bank on Monday, including the father of the Palestinian terrorist who carried out Friday's deadly shooting near Gilad Farm, Israel Police said. Police did not say what the father was suspected of and did not allege that he was involved in the attack itself. He was transferred for questioning. Three other wanted suspects were arrested in the Balata refugee camp in Nablus in an undercover Border Police operation directed by the Shin Bet. Police said the three were suspected of involvement in terrorist activity but provided no further details. In separate operations in Tal near Nablus, Ramallah, Shuweika near Tulkarm, and Bani Naim near Hebron, Border Police arrested six additional suspects. Charges include incitement to terrorism, rioting, smuggling Palestinians without permits into Israel, and other offenses. The Friday attack killed Maj. Yuval Ezra, 27, an artillery battery commander, and Sgt.-Maj. (res.) Benyahu Mellet, 32, a member of Gilad Farm's local security team. The attack began after a group of Israeli hikers entered Palestinian Authority-controlled territory near Tal and clashed with local Palestinians. According to the IDF, a Palestinian attacker seized a security officer's rifle and opened fire, and was killed at the scene.