IDF, Shin Bet raid two West Bank charities they say were fronts for terror groups

The Israel Defense Forces and Shin Bet said on Wednesday that they had cracked down recently on ostensible charities based in the West Bank, which they said were actually raising funds for terrorist organizations. In a joint statement, the security bodies said that two targeted operations were carried out in Ramallah and Yatta in the West Bank, and five people were arrested for raising money on behalf of Hamas and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. Security forces raided the Ramallah offices of the Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association on Tuesday, the statement said, seizing computers, documents and checkbooks. Addameer, a nongovernmental organization that was founded in 1991, provides free legal services to Palestinian political prisoners and detainees in Israeli custody and monitors the conditions of their confinement. The IDF and Shin Bet said the organization provides legal assistance to terrorists, including those responsible for the murder of 17-year-old Rina Shnerb in 2019. Get The Times of Israel's Daily Edition by email and never miss our top stories Newsletter email address Get it By signing up, you agree to the terms Forces also recently raided the office in Yatta of the Islamic Society for Orphans Welfare, the IDF and Shin Bet said, adding that officers arrested individuals and confiscated items “bearing markings associated with designated Hamas funds.” A Palestinian man walks outside a mosque that was burned during an attack by Israeli settlers in the West Bank village of Mikhmas, east of Ramallah, October 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Leo Correa) The IDF and Shin Bet accused the organization of transferring funds to Hamas and supporting the families of Hamas terrorists and prisoners. Israel has carried out numerous raids against Palestinian organizations accused of working with or financing terror groups. Advertisement Ongoing settler attacks Meanwhile, Palestinian media outlets reported earlier on Wednesday that settlers set fire to a mosque and a car in the village of Mukhmas, north of Jerusalem in the West Bank. Footage from the scene showed damage to the mosque’s entrance. There were no reports of injuries. ????مستوطنون إسرائيليون يحرقون مسجدًا ومركبة وشجرة زيتون خلال هجومهم على قرية مخماس شمال شرق القدس المحتلة – وسائل إعلام فلسطينية pic.twitter.com/XJZofXrpAO — Sputnik Arabic (@sputnik_ar) October 14, 2026 IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir said on Wednesday there was a possibility of a security escalation “across all fronts,” and added that settler violence against Palestinians must be “eradicated using every tool available to the State of Israel.” Advertisement Zamir’s comments came as he visited the Central Command headquarters alongside its head, Maj. Gen. Avi Bluth. Zamir noted that the 98th Division has been deployed to the West Bank to boost the IDF presence there. “During this sensitive period, we must maintain vigilance and readiness on every front, preserve freedom of action and thwart threats quickly,” the IDF chief said. “We are pursuing and fighting terrorism everywhere. The IDF is at a high level of readiness to transition to broad offensive operations against any party that attempts to harm Israeli civilians.” Zamir noted that the “sensitive period” included the ongoing olive harvest, which is often a time of heightened settler violence against Palestinian farmers. IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir visits the Central Command HQ on October 14, 2026. (IDF) Violence in the West Bank has soared since the Hamas attack on Israel triggered the Gaza war in October 2023. More than 1,100 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank by Israeli forces or settlers since the war started, according to the PA health ministry. The IDF says the vast majority of them were gunmen killed in exchanges of fire, rioters who clashed with troops or terrorists carrying out attacks. During the same period, 67 civilians and Israeli security personnel have been killed in terror attacks in Israel and the West Bank. Another eight members of the security forces were killed in clashes during raids in Palestinian cities in the West Bank. The same period has also seen a major surge in attacks by settler extremists on Palestinians and their property across the West Bank. The IDF recorded 867 incidents of nationalistic crime and settler violence in 2025. The total for 2024 was 682 incidents. Help us report truthfully on social media As a multimedia journalist, my job is to take the quality, fact-based journalism produced by The Times of Israel newsroom and make it accessible across every platform — from Instagram posts to podcasts to short-form videos. This is how many, especially young people, consume news these days. But misinformation is rampant on social media. Our team at ToI produces accurate, responsible short-form reporting on Israel and the Jewish world. If you believe in the importance of factual social media journalism , please consider joining our reader support group, The Times of Israel Community. Your financial support is essential to sustain responsible multimedia reporting. — Gabriella Jacobs, multimedia journalist Support our work Support our work Already a member? Sign in to stop seeing this You're a dedicated reader We’re really pleased that you’ve read X Times of Israel articles in the past month. That’s why we started the Times of Israel - to provide discerning readers like you with must-read coverage of Israel and the Jewish world. So now we have a request. Unlike other news outlets, we haven’t put up a paywall. But as the journalism we do is costly, we invite readers for whom The Times of Israel has become important to help support our work by joining The Times of Israel Community. For as little as $6 a month you can help support our quality journalism while enjoying The Times of Israel AD-FREE , as well as accessing exclusive content available only to Times of Israel Community members. Thank you, David Horovitz, Founding Editor of The Times of Israel Join Our Community Join Our Community Already a member? Sign in to stop seeing this Most Popular 1 Netanyahu reportedly pressed Trump to renew Iran fighting before Israeli and US elections 2 Small parties hovering around minimum vote threshold could determine Israel’s election 3 New York synagogue bids ‘sacred farewell’ to Holocaust memorial by Louise Nevelson 4 Op-ed: Two weeks to election Unless the opposition steps up its game, Netanyahu, the PM of Oct. 7, could yet survive this election 5 Ethiopian Airlines cargo flight denied landing in Israel, forced to turn around, due to Indonesian pilot 6 Analysis Threats to NYPD’s pro-Israel commissioner are an inflection point for New York Jews 7 Iran said shoring up defenses at nuclear sites, warning it could invade neighbors if war resumes 8 Ex-Shin Bet chief files defamation suit against Netanyahu, details warnings months before Oct. 7 read more: Israel & the Region West Bank raids IDF Israel Defense Forces Addameer West Bank Palestinian prisoners Ramallah Shin Bet settler violence If you’d like to comment, join The Times of Israel Community. JOIN THE TOI COMMUNITY Already a member? Log in here close popup Sign in or Join The Times of Israel Community Sign in or Register Paying ToI Community members are invited to comment on articles Email address * Please use the following structure: [email protected] Continue Or Continue with By joining you agree to the terms and conditions Send me The Times of Israel Daily Edition back close popup Register to continue Email address * Change REGISTER Or Continue with back close popup Log in to continue Email address * Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.. Continue back close popup Sign in or Join The Times of Israel Community Sign in or Register You are currently registered. Please join The Times of Israel Community to comment and enjoy other Community benefits Only ToI Community members can comment below articles Email address * Password * Incorrect password. Please try again or choose an option below. Forgot your password? / Send me a login link Continue Sign in without joining Or Continue with close popup Check your email We sent an email to you at . It has a link that will sign you in. Click the link in that email to complete registration so you can comment. back close popup Join The Times of Israel Community Commenting is available for paying members of The Times of Israel Community only. Please join our Community to comment and enjoy other Community benefits. Email address * Please use the following structure: [email protected] JOIN NOW! close popup Thank you! Now check your email You are now a member of The Times of Israel Community! We sent you an email with a login link to . Once you're set up, you can start enjoying Community benefits and commenting.