It should be noted that one of the members of the terror cell admitted
during questioning that two weeks prior to the attack, he had accompanied
his 6 year old daughter to the Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem, where she had
a tumor removed from her eye. The operation had been paid for in full by an
Israeli charity foundation.

IDF Spokesperson Announcement
For Immediate Release
July 19th, 2010 16:00

Terrorist Cell Behind Murder of Policeman Arrested:
Planned Additional Attacks and Abductions

Newly released information

On 22 June 2010, the IDF, ISA and Israel Police, arrested the Hamas
terrorist cell responsible for the killing of policeman Shuki Sofer during a
shooting attack on 14 June 2010, on route 60 near the Israeli community of
Otni'el. Two other policemen were injured in the incident.

The operatives, all in their twenties, some of which were held by Israeli
security forces in the past for their involvement with the Hamas Terrorist
organization, were arrested in the village of Deir Tsamet, near Israel's
Lachish region.

After questioning the operatives, the ISA was able to determine that they
had formed the Hamas terror cell a few years ago in order to execute terror
attacks. For this purpose, the operatives accumulated munitions, including
three AK47 assault rifles, in a stockpile hidden in a hilly area.

The Hamas cell began its combat operations in 2009, when its members
received shooting training. In the first months of 2010, the cell decided to
attack an Israeli target on route 60. In preparation, the operatives located
a convenient ambush site along the road, and agreed on attacking a police
car that drove through the road every morning.

In the early morning of 14 July 2010, three of the operatives deployed at
the ambush site, while another operative drove nearby and acted as a
look-out in the case IDF forces arrived.

The police car passed by the ambush site, near Deir Razakh, north of Otni'el
at 07:15. The operatives shot bursts of gunfire at the vehicle, killing the
policeman and injuring two others.

The operatives escaped the scene and later burned the escape vehicle and hid
the munitions. An additional operative, who was aware of their plans,
assisted in hiding the weapons after the attack.

The operatives reenacted the attack during their investigation, and handed
over the three AK47 assault rifles to security forces.

It should be noted that one of the members of the terror cell admitted
during questioning that two weeks prior to the attack, he had accompanied
his 6 year old daughter to the Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem, where she had
a tumor removed from her eye. The operation had been paid for in full by an
Israeli charity foundation.

It also appears from the investigation that the cell had planned additional
attacks, most notably to abduct a soldier or civilian in the Gush Ezyon
area. The operatives had already begun scouting the area, and had purchased
Yarmulkes (skull caps) and a wig that they planned to use in the attack.

The investigation is ongoing.