(Communicated by the IDF Spokesman)
On April 14, 2014, the evening of the Jewish holiday of Passover, terrorists fired dozens of bullets at civilian vehicles travelling on route 35 near Hebron, killing Israel Police officer
Chief Superintendent Baruch Mizrahi, critically injuring his wife and wounding a 9-year-old child traveling in a nearby car. The terrorists immediately fled the scene. A joint IDF-ISA operation was launched to locate them and bring them to justice.
On May 7, 2014, security forces apprehended two Palestinians suspected of involvement in the lethal attack.
One of the detained suspects is Ziad Awad, 42, of Idhna, a Hamas operative who was imprisoned in the past and was one of 1,027 Hamas terrorists released in the
2011 Gilad Shalit prisoner exchange. Ziad was imprisoned for the murder of Palestinians who were believed to be cooperating with Israeli security forces.
The second detainee is Ziad's son, Az Al-Adin Hasan Awad, 18, who admitted that his father had shared with him his intentions to execute a terror attack against Israelis during the Passover holiday.
During his investigation, Az Al-Adin disclosed the
whereabouts of the weapon used in the attack; an AK-47 assault rifle and
ammunition, and revealed further details confirming Ziad's involvement
in the execution of the attack.
Further findings of the investigation suggest that Ziad Awad had purchased a motorcycle and acquired an AK-47 assault rifle to be used in the attack. The investigation revealed that Awad arrived at the shooting scene a week prior to the attack in order to gather intelligence to carry out his plans and was reported to have behaved suspiciously during the aftermath of the incident.
Following the attack Ziad Awad shared his religious motive with his son and said that "according to the Islamic religion, those who kill Jews go to heaven".
Indictments against the two were filed on Monday, June 23, 2014, by the Military Advocacy.