IDF prepares West Bank mass-arrest operation, demolition of Neveh Tzuf terrorist’s home - report

The terrorist is believed to have acted alone in both the attack and his escape attempt, Army Radio cited security officials as saying.

The IDF is preparing a mass-arrest operation in the West Bank Palestinian village of Biddu, the hometown of the Neveh Tzuf terrorist captured by the military earlier on Sunday, Army Radio reported.

Suspects in the village, which is located near Ramallah, will be arrested, and the terrorist's home will be mapped for demolition, Army Radio added.

According to Army Radio, the operation will further span across the West Bank, with dozens of suspects expected to be arrested.

IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir visited the scene of the attack earlier on Sunday, describing the attack as a "severe terrorist attack," noting that the IDF "acted quickly" to apprehend the terrorist responsible.

"Our mission is not over," said Zamir. "We will impose a closure on the village and conduct investigations, through which we will reach everyone who assisted the terrorist."

Army Radio identified the terrorist as a 37-year-old Hamas operative, saying that he had visited the attack site on Saturday to prepare.

The Hamas terror organization had praised the attack earlier on Sunday, but did not directly claim responsibility for it, saying that it was "carried out by one of the heroes of our people."

Hamas: 'Heroic' attack a 'legitimate and natural response'

"We affirm that this blessed and heroic operation is a legitimate and natural response to the ongoing incursions by settlers and occupation leaders into the blessed al-Aqsa Mosque and their desecration of it," Hamas said. "It is also an affirmation that Jeruslaem and al-Aqsa are worth defending with lives and souls."

The terrorist is believed to have acted alone in both the attack and his escape attempt, Army Radio cited security officials as saying.

James Genn and Miriam Sela-Eitam contributed to this report.