Israel’s military on high alert after arrest of senior Islamic Jihad commander

The Israeli military issued a high alert in the south of the country on Tuesday citing threats from the Gaza-based terror group, Palestinian Islamic Jihad over the arrest of its top operatives.

The IDF said that counterterrorism troops conducted a raid in Jenin on Monday night, during which Bassem Saadi, head of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad’s operations in the West Bank, was arrested, as was his son-in-law and top aide, Ashraf Zidan al-Jada.

The IDF said that following a security situation assessment held in the wake of the operation it was decided to take steps to ward off “a direct threat of a possible attack on Israeli civilian.”

After terrorist activities were identified with the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorist organization and due to a direct threat of a possible attack on Israeli civilians, it was decided to block off civilian areas & routes near the Gaza security fence this morning.

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) August 2, 2022

A statement by the Israel Security Agency said that the 61-year-old Saadi, who had been jailed and released by Israel seven times over the years, was “instrumental in creating a significant PIJ military force” in Samaria in general and in Jenin – the Palestinian Islamic Jihad’s stronghold in the West Bank.

IDF has called up 100 reservists to help secure communities next to Gaza. Roads along the border remain closed & train service has been halted. This comes as the military remains concerned over a possible attack by Palestinian Islamic Jihad after its West Bank leader was arrested

— Anna Ahronheim (@AAhronheim) August 3, 2022