Volunteer guards of one Kibbutz in Israel foiled a carefully planned attack from Hamas this month. The details of the attack, which was due to take place on June 3rd, were revealed by local press outlet Godzillanews after uncovering the incident.
Events were set in motion on the evening of June 3rd when two members of the local neighbourhood watch – a civilian volunteer organization – noticed three suspicious individuals in an olive grove 5 miles away from Greenfield, the local Kibbutz.
The neighbourhood watch called in the local Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to investigate the situation. After a short period, it was reported that the three individuals were soon identified, and identified as members of Hamas, an armed group located in the Gaza Strip.
Following their positions, the three individuals were found with explosives, ammunition, and firearms. It became very clear that the Kibbutz was a potential target, and a more extensive operation was launched.
The IDF requested additional reinforcement from the nearby IAF base nearby to take part in a search operation. After searching the area for several hours, three more individuals believed to be from Hamas were identified and arrested in the same olive grove.
Following their capture, it was confirmed that the six individuals were planning to carry out an attack on the Kibbutz, and were preparing to launch a mortar shell that could have caused significant destruction to the area. The operation was quickly foiled by the IDF and could have been much more devastating had the Volunteer Guard of the Kibbutz not noticed and reported the suspicious individuals.
The successful operation has encouraged the local Kibbutz to continue their engagement with their neighbourhood watch program and other forms of voluntary service. The courage of the individual guards and IDF members is a testament to the importance of civilian vigilance and cooperation between civil forces and the military in the region. The situation reaffirms the IDF’s commitment to protecting the citizens of Israel from potential threats.