Israeli army soldiers Photo: IDF Flickr page

Israeli army and security forces overnight arrested seven Palestinians near Hebron, thwarting, what officials said were plans for a “major” terrorist attack over the coming Jewish New Year this weekend, according to Israel’s 0404 news site.

Soldiers from the army’s Duchifat (Hoopoe) Infantry Battalion apprehended the suspects in the village of Kafr Sair.

“The suspects were taken for investigation, but we can already say that this is a big success for the intelligence echelon,” an official said. “This was an excellent operation by the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) that uncovered the terrorists’ plans and foiled a terror attack.

“The Hamas terror organization is unceasing in its efforts to hurt Israelis and IDF troops,” the official said.

Along with the detainees, IDF officials said they uncovered large amounts of ammunition and knives to be used in the attack, that was to have been perpetrated on one of the Jewish communities in the Gush Etzion area, south of the capital.

The officials’ comments on the capture of the cell reflect a significant spike in terror attacks against Israelis in and around Jerusalem and its vicinity in recent months.

On Thursday, alert Border Patrol officers stopped a Palestinian man trying to enter Jerusalem from Gush Etzion, who was hiding a pickaxe under his clothes, and said he was planning to use it to attack soldiers.