Around 60 Palestinians without entry permits crossed the separation barrier in the Lachish area on Saturday night and entered Israeli territory.
Police in the Lachish district began a search operation after IDF forces in the area failed to prevent the infiltration.
“The army must deal with the problem and resolve the issue of infiltrators entering through the separation fence,” police officials said.
Just last week, during a joint police-IDF operation, about 60 Palestinians without permits were caught attempting to cross the fence in the same area. Police are supporting the IDF due to the military’s operational burden, which limits its ability to deploy troops along the entire length of the barrier.
In a statement, the IDF said, “The IDF is working to thwart terror and infiltration into the country in coordination with the Shin Bet, Israel Police, and other bodies through a range of operational solutions. The IDF is optimizing its deployment to address all challenges, including defense of the seam zone area, which is carried out through patrols, surveillance, ambushes, and extensive intelligence efforts.”
Nearly two dozen Palestinians without permits
Separately, on Sunday morning, police located 21 Palestinians without permits who were staying overnight at a construction site on Ehud Manor Street in Bat Yam.
Officers from the local station, together with Border Police and Special Patrol Unit personnel from Tel Aviv, raided the site. The individuals were taken in for questioning.
Police said the effort to prevent Palestinians without permits from residing illegally in residential or industrial areas is intended to curb the development of infrastructure that could facilitate criminal or hostile activity.