Rockets in Samaria: IDF arrests terror cell that manufactured rockets ready to be launched at Israel

In a highly concerning development for Israel’s security, Israel Defense Forces announced on Friday that it had arrested a terror cell in Samaria that attempted to launch a rocket at Israel and had manufactured dozens more, including two that were ready for immediate use.

Last week, the cell attempted to launch a rocket at Israel from the village of Kafr Na’ima, but it landed in the nearby Palestinian village of Beit Ur a-Tahta, alerting Israeli authorities. It reportedly contained non-standard, improvised explosives, while another rocket was found without explosives.

Beit Ur a-Tahta lies due south of Kafr Na’ima, indicating the terrorists had planned to launch a rocket at the approaches to Jerusalem, roughly the area of Beit Shemesh and Highway 1, the main artery connecting the capital to the rest of the country.

On Friday morning, the IDF announced that the three members of the cell were arrested after a short exchange of fire during a joint operation with the Shin Bet and Israel's Yamam anti-terror commando force.

🚨 Last night, IDF forces in the Ramallah area arrested a terrorist cell that produced rockets to launch at communities in Judea and Samaria.
Despite its commitments, the PA is not fighting terrorism and continues its "Pay-for-Slay" policy.
This is further proof of the enormous… pic.twitter.com/jJIqOxpnZk

— Gideon Sa'ar | גדעון סער (@gidonsaar) September 19, 2025

“During the activity, the forces encircled the structure from which the suspects operated and fired toward it. Following the shooting, the three suspects exited the structure and were apprehended by the forces,” the IDF stated.

“In the structure, dozens of rockets, including two ready-to-launch rockets without warheads, explosives, and explosive materials, alongside findings linking them to the manufacturing and attempted launching of rockets, were located. Additionally, a rocket manufacturing workshop was located.”

Following the activity, Israeli forces dismantled the rockets and the explosives. The suspects were handed over to the Israel Security Agency for further questioning by the Shin Bet, Israel’s domestic intelligence service that is also responsible for counterterror operations in Judea and Samaria (West Bank).

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar responded to the report by noting that “If Israel will not maintain security control over Judea and Samaria – the entire State of Israel will be in danger.”

“Despite its commitments, the PA is not fighting terrorism and continues its ‘Pay-to-Slay’ policy. This is further proof of the enormous danger in establishing a ‘Palestinian state’,” Sa’ar wrote on 𝕏.

Just one day earlier, Sa’ar addressed the largest-ever delegation of U.S. lawmakers to visit Israel as they visited the “Balcony of the State” lookout in the settlement of Peduel, which lies east of Tel Aviv in central Samaria.

“The establishment of a Palestinian state here, on these surrounding hills – in this topography of hills and mountains you see – would turn the coastal plain, which constitutes most of Israel, into an easy target and would endanger Israel’s security,” Sa’ar told the lawmakers.

At the same meeting, Samaria Regional Council Head Yossi Dagan told the group, “We are here to stay – forever. Our presence and control over these mountains is not only historical justice – it is the security belt of the State of Israel.”

Despite several attempts to manufacture rockets in Judea and Samaria, or smuggle ready-to-launch rockets from Jordan, there has not been a successful attempt to launch rockets from the area at Israel so far.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, chairman of the Religious Zionism Party – the settlement movement's main representative – said the production of weapons "is a direct result of the Arab hope to eliminate the State of Israel by establishing a terror state in the heart of the country."

"Macron gives hope to terror – we must cut it off. Applying Israeli sovereignty, according to the plan I published and which received broad support, is the only way to ensure that a Palestinian state will not be established," he added.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir said he wasn’t surprised by this latest discovery of rockets.

“Just like in Gaza on the eve of October 7, where I was almost the only one warning against the prevailing conception, so it is in Judea and Samaria. The Palestinian Authority is a terrorist entity, training to carry out a "Oct. 7" in Judea and Samaria,” he charged.

“It pays salaries to those who murder Jews, educates in its schools to slaughter Jews, and incites in its media in support of terror. If we don’t dismantle it in time, we’ll wake up too late – just like we did in Gaza.”