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

Israeli security forces conducted overnight raids across the West Bank, arresting nine suspects including the father of the Palestinian individual who carried out a fatal shooting near Gilad Farm on Friday. The Israeli Police confirmed the arrests on Monday, stating that the father was transferred for questioning, though no specific allegations of his involvement in the attack were made.

The operation also saw three other wanted individuals apprehended in the Balata refugee camp in Nablus during an undercover Border Police operation coordinated by the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency). These three are suspected of involvement in terrorist activities, though their connection to Friday's attack was not specified. Further arrests of six additional suspects occurred in separate operations near Nablus, Tulkarm, and Hebron.

The arrested individuals face charges that include incitement to terrorism, rioting, and smuggling undocumented Palestinians into Israel. The Friday shooting resulted in the deaths of Maj. Yuval Ezra and Sgt.-Maj. (res.) Benyahu Mellet. The incident began when a group of Israeli hikers entered Palestinian Authority-controlled territory near Tal, leading to a clash with local Palestinians. According to the IDF, the Palestinian attacker seized a security officer's rifle and opened fire on the Israelis before being killed at the scene.