Six men from Jenin indicted for building rocket launch network
Prosecutors say the cell conducted three successful test launches and maintained contact with a foreign advisor on manufacturing details.
By Naomi Tesfaye ·
Six men from the Jenin area face formal charges for establishing a network to produce rockets and explosives aimed at Israel and its security forces. Prosecutors filed the indictment on Tuesday morning, concluding a multi-month investigation that resulted in the seizure of weapons and technical documents.
The suspects, all men in their 30s, were arrested over recent months by the counterterrorism division of the Judea and Samaria District Central Unit in cooperation with the Shin Bet. The investigation focused on a group that built infrastructure for manufacturing rocket bodies and explosive devices. Authorities determined the cell did not merely plan attacks but executed three distinct test launches.
During questioning, one suspect admitted to helping set up the network and defining its goals. He stated that the initial launches produced successful results regarding power and range. Rather than stopping after the first trial, the group analyzed the data from each launch to refine the rocket design before subsequent tests. This iterative process allowed them to enhance the capabilities of the weapons they were producing.
A second suspect confessed to procuring explosives for the cell and selling weapons to its members. Investigators believe these items were among those recovered during the arrests. The group also maintained a link to an individual outside of Israel who provided guidance on necessary materials through a messaging application.
Security forces recovered specific hardware during the operation, including an M16 rifle and a component for a rocket-propelled grenade. They also collected documents and instructional manuals that outlined the steps for manufacturing explosives and rockets. These materials provide the evidentiary basis for the charges brought against the six residents.
The legal process began with the filing of the prosecutor's declaration, which outlines the findings of the central unit and the security agency. The case marks the first formal indictment against this specific Jenin-based group, moving the investigation from the arrest phase to the judicial track.
