Israeli Forces Capture Terrorist Who Murdered 2 IDF Soldiers
Israeli Special Forces on Tuesday morning captured the Arab terrorist who carried out the deadly shooting attack at the Givat Assaf junction last month in which he killed two IDF soldier and wounded another soldier and a civilian.
The Police stated that Border Police counter-terrorism units carried out an operation during which they arrested Aatzam Barghouti who carried out the Dec.13 shooting at the Givat Assaf bus stop during which he murdered Sgt. Yovel Mor Yosef, 20, and Cpl. Yosef Cohen, 19.
The wounded soldier, Netanel Filber, who sustained a severe head injury, is still fighting for his life
The terrorist was arrested with his automatic weapon next to him during the Yamam (special police unit) operation, the police said. He also had night vision equipment with him and was reportedly planning another attack
Barghouti‘s arrest was the result of the intelligence and operational activities of the Shin Bet (Israel’s Security Agency) and other Israeli security bodies, the IDF stated.
Aazam Barghouti was also involved in a shooting attack at a hitchhiking station in Ofra with his brother Salah Barghouti on Dec. 9, during which seven Israelis were wounded. An Israeli baby who was delivered prematurely as a result of the attack died a few days later.
Salah was shot and killed by Israeli forces during an attempt to arrest him a few days after the attack.
The two brothers are the sons of Hamas leader Omar Barghouti and come from a family heavily involved in terrorism.
The Yamam commander stated that they had “no doubt” that they would reach the terrorist and capture him.
The Yamam’s cooperation with the various security agencies, including the Shin Bet, is “what leads to impressive operational successes and which will continue to ensure that no low-life murderer will escape the Yamam’s long arm,” he said.
Responding to the news, Ilanit Mor Yosef, Yuval’s mother, said that the arrest brought her no reprieve.
“Our son fought terrorism and we will continue his war,” she told IDF Radio. “We will not rest until a law prescribing the death for terrorists passes,” she vowed, noting that Barghouti had already served time in Israeli rosins for terrorism and that the threat of incarceration was evidently not enough to deter terrorists.
She also called on the government to immediately demolish the Barghouti’s home, as well as the homes of all those who assisted him in his acts of terrorism.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated the Israeli forces for their successful operation, stating that “the long arm of Israel will reach whoever attacks our citizens. The State of Israel will deal with them to the fullest extent of the law.”