Just a few hours before the start of Independence Day celebrations (Wednesday), Israeli police in Tiberias stopped a minibus carrying 18 Palestinians who were in Israel without legal permits. The incident occurred during a focused operation by the Northern District Police, part of the national security deployment ahead of Memorial Day and Independence Day.
The arrest followed a routine inspection of a shuttle vehicle in the city. During the check, officers discovered that all passengers were residing in Israel illegally. The suspects were taken in for questioning—some were returned to Palestinian Authority-controlled areas, while others were detained and brought before a judge for hearings on extending their custody.
The operation in Tiberias is part of a broader wave of arrests and enforcement efforts recently carried out across the country. These measures are intended to reduce the number of illegal infiltrators in Israeli territory. In preparation for Memorial Day and Independence Day, enforcement activities targeting unauthorized entrants have been significantly increased.
According to security officials, the presence of illegal infiltrators can at times serve as a base for criminal activity and even terrorism. Police are currently also taking action against employers, drivers, and property owners who assist or house illegal entrants—in an effort to disrupt the support networks that enable their entry and stay in Israel.
