JERUSALEM (VINnews) – Israeli troops have seized more than 240 firearms and additional weapons in Judea and Samaria since the beginning of 2026, uncovering fresh evidence that terrorist groups are embedding themselves in civilian areas and exploiting local infrastructure, the IDF said Monday.

In recent months, IDF forces located numerous weapons concealed in civilian locations, including firearms, ammunition, lathes used to manufacture arms and other terrorist equipment, according to the military.

One operation in April uncovered ammunition for both long-barreled and short-barreled weapons hidden inside a well-known hardware store in Bethlehem, within the Etzion Regional Brigade’s area of operations. The store’s owner was later apprehended, the IDF said.

In another recent raid in Nablus, in the Samaria Regional Brigade’s sector, troops discovered a lathe used for weapon manufacturing in the center of a civilian building. The site’s owner was also taken into custody.

“These findings provide further evidence of attempts by terrorist groups to establish themselves within civilian areas and exploit civilian infrastructure for terrorist purposes,” the IDF statement said.

The military said it and other security forces will continue operations to thwart terrorism throughout Judea and Samaria in order to safeguard Israeli civilians.