IDF and police officers carried out a large operation in Kafr Aqab, seizing weapons and stolen vehicles, arresting suspects, and dispersing violent riots linked to terror and crime groups.
The IDF, aided by Border Police, Israel Police, and the Jerusalem Municipality, carried out an operation to mitigate the risk of a terror attack from elements in Kafr Aqab, northern Jerusalem, in recent weeks, Walla reported on Thursday.
The military’s Binyamin Regional Brigade carried out the operation to locate weapons, rioters, and individuals wanted for police investigations.
The military also issued fines to businesses and demolished illegally built structures.
Locals, including individuals involved in criminal organizations, rioted in response to the operation, including throwing Molotov cocktails and stones at the soldiers and police officers, and burning trash containers.
Soldiers and police officers employed riot dispersal measures to control the crowd. At least three rioters were injured during the incident.
An IDF soldier during an operation in Kafr Aqab, December 2025. (credit: VIA WALLA)
During the search operation, Israeli security forces located at least eight weapons, 15 cars and motorcycles stolen from Israel, and other illegal goods worth hundreds of thousands of shekels.
In recent weeks, security forces have arrested at least 40 terrorists, including Hamas operatives, weapons traffickers, explosive manufacturers, and stone throwers.
The military will continue acting to prevent the activity and development of crime organizations and criminals, a senior IDF officer in the region told Walla.
Some of the forces moved in unarmored vehicles in accordance with operational control of the area. The engineering activity to demolish illegal structures, which had been planned to take place over ten hours, was shortened to just four hours due to the high level of security, the officer stated, adding that the forces operated freely.
Kafr Aqab closer to Ramallah than Jerusalem
Kafr Aqab is an Arab neighborhood in the far north of the Jerusalem Municipality, on the northern side of the West Bank security barrier, near Ramallah. Residents are eligible to carry Israeli ID cards.
Criminal organizations are known to operate in the area, trading in drugs, stolen vehicles, and weapons.
Terrorists have previously operated from Kafr Aqab to carry out attacks on Israelis.
