One of the Biggest Arrests of the Year in Judea and Samaria Took Place in Broad Daylight

When operating in the heart of terrorist networks in Judea and Samaria, one of the most important things is the ability to repeatedly strike unexpectedly and catch the terrorists off guard. With this in mind, last week our troops launched one of the largest operations of the past year to dismantle a terrorist cell in the Judea and Samaria area.

The Ram Battalion, Reserve Battalion 1810, the Judea and Samaria Border Police, and Duvdevan fighters, joined forces in a raid on money exchange stores in the heart of Ramallah, which served as channels for funneling terrorist funds.

To carry out a brigade wide operation of this scale, three full battalions and a strong presence on the ground were required. Through precise coordination, and in just three hours, the forces succeeded in seizing approximately 1.5 million shekels intended for terrorism.

The 1810s began the operation with a clear goal, the battalion commander, Lt. Col. M., describes: “We had to isolate the entire northern, western, and eastern area to allow the 'Ram' battalion to operate without being recognized. It was decided in advance which routes we would enter from, and each company was given specific objectives.”

The operation began with a simultaneous assault along the designated border line. “We had about a kilometer and a half of area to isolate,” explains the battalion commander. “From the moment we entered, the ‘Ram’ Battalion - the raiding force - advanced inside with us. Everything had to happen quickly, and indeed, within 20 minutes, we had full freedom of action in one of the busiest areas in Ramallah, Al-Manara Square.”

As if isolating such a bustling area wasn’t challenging enough, this operation unfolded in broad daylight. “We knew that the moment we entered it would immediately draw fire,” recalls Lt. Col. M. “And indeed, throughout the mission we had to contend with numerous disturbances in the area. But at the same time, the element of surprise proved crucial to our success.”

It was now the turn of the raiding battalion. “After the successful encirclement, we moved straight into the area,” states Lt. Col. A., commander of the Ram Battalion. “Each company was assigned a specific target to raid. Money exchange shops in the heart of the city that served as criminal hubs funneling terrorist funds to hostile organizations.” These businesses were also used to transfer terror funds directly to Hamas terrorists.

On the ground, everything moved like clockwork thanks to meticulous planning: "From the moment we received the mission, we knew what we were getting into. The main goal was to shut down the business completely and prevent the continued flow of funds to terrorists, aides and collaborators."

During the operation, they arrested ten wanted individuals, confiscated cash worth one and a half million shekels, and relevant accessories. Once the mission was secured and coordination completed, another company moved in with evacuation trucks to remove the large safes containing the terrorist funds. Meanwhile, reservists from the 1810th Battalion patrolled the area, ensuring that even in the final stage no unexpected threats could endanger our troops.

From the moment of entry to the moment of exit, only three hours passed. “Today, the places that were defined as major terrorist targets in the city have been thwarted, and all the money that we confiscated is no longer active,” says the commander of Battalion 1810. “The challenges in this sector are not simple, but we continue to operate and demonstrate that when we approach operations with fresh thinking and catch the enemy by surprise, we secure significant achievements not seen here in a long time.”