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A group of armed criminals posing as soldiers carried out a violent robbery at a jewelry store in the southern West Bank town of Ad-Dahariya, escaping with kilograms of gold and large sums of cash before police captured several suspects following a pursuit.
According to investigators, the suspects disguised themselves as members of the Israel Defense Forces, wearing full tactical uniforms and carrying rifles, pistols and ammunition to create the appearance of a legitimate security operation.
The robbery unfolded inside the Hebron Governorate, where police said the group stormed a local jewelry shop and quickly took control of employees using force and intimidation.
Authorities reported that the suspects stole around four kilograms of gold jewelry along with more than NIS 100,000 in cash. The haul, investigators said, represented one of the larger robberies in the district in recent months.
During the attack, the assailants allegedly aimed their weapons directly at staff members. Workers were handcuffed, blindfolded and beaten, sustaining injuries before the suspects ransacked the store.
“The suspects acted with extreme violence and used military-style tactics to overwhelm the victims,” a police spokesperson said, adding that the employees were left shaken and required medical attention.
As they fled the scene, the group reportedly abducted one of the victims and forced him into their vehicle. Witnesses said shots were fired during the escape, damaging a car that attempted to follow the suspects.
Police units from the Hebron station, assisted by Border Police forces in Judea and Samaria, launched an immediate chase. Officers tracked multiple vehicles linked to the robbery, including one bearing a fake license plate.
Several suspects were apprehended following the pursuit, while others were later arrested through a joint investigation involving the elite Lahav 433 unit and district coordination teams.
Authorities confirmed that the suspects were extradited to Israel for questioning and that prosecutors have filed indictments related to armed robbery, kidnapping, assault and illegal weapons possession.
The incident comes amid a broader crackdown on criminal activity in Bedouin communities and smuggling routes across southern Israel.
In a separate enforcement operation this week, officers seized two handguns, an explosive device and large quantities of ammunition from a school compound in the Bedouin town of Lakiya.
Police also announced the arrest of three suspects in connection with a recent homicide in a nearby village, underscoring what authorities describe as a troubling rise in organized crime and illegal firearms.
The enforcement campaign, dubbed “On Target,” has been active since January across the Negev. Officials say the operation focuses on dismantling arms caches, intercepting smuggling routes and targeting local gangs.
Over the past two weeks alone, police said roughly 200 illegal weapons were confiscated and about 200 suspects detained during coordinated raids.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir has repeatedly called for tougher measures against illegal firearms and organized crime, particularly in areas where weapons are hidden in public institutions such as schools.
Officers stressed that the presence of guns and explosives near educational facilities poses an immediate threat to children and residents, prompting intensified inspections.
Community leaders have voiced concern that criminals exploiting military disguises risk eroding public trust and creating confusion during genuine security operations.
Investigators are now working to determine whether the robbery suspects are linked to wider smuggling or trafficking networks operating between the West Bank and southern Israel.
Meanwhile, the victims of the jewelry store attack continue to recover, as police vow further proactive patrols to prevent similar crimes and reassure residents that those responsible will face prosecution.