According to information released May 29, the Israel Security Agency foiled an attempt by a terror group calling itself the Holy Warriors Brigades, whose members planned to kidnap Israelis and use them as bargaining chips to secure the release of Palestinian prisoners.

The group’s operatives are from Hebron and the Gaza Strip. The Shin Bet suspects that the operation, which was partially planned from behind prison walls, was meant to mitigate the life sentences being served by some of the terror group’s members.

The Holy Warriors Brigades is a radical splinter group of the al Aksa Martyrs’ Brigades, Fatah’s military wing. It is headed by Assad Ibrahim abu Shariya, whose brother Omar is imprisoned in Israel.

The operation was to be funded by a Saudi contact. — ynetnews.com