A major break in the case of the Itamar murders indicating the Israel intelligence Shabak has arrested the individuals it believes perpetrated the crime.
Two 18-year-old terrorists from the village of Awarta were arrested, Amjed Awad and Hakim Awad, relatives, re-enacted the murder and confessed during their interrogation. According to Army Radio, they did not express remorse for their crimes
They are affiliated with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PLFP) terror group, and received significant assistance from family members and friends after the attack, security forces added.
The suspects planned the stabbings days ahead of time. On the night of March 11, after unsuccessful attempts to obtain firearms from a local PFLP representative in their village, the two set out towards Itamar on foot armed with knives, a wirecutter, and masks to cover their faces.
After a kilometer, they cut a wire fence around Itamar, climbed over a forest and a hilltop, and reached a row of homes.
Immediately after entering the home, the youths set their knives on two young brothers sleeping in their beds, 4-year-old Elad and 11-year-old Yoav.
They then entered the parents' bedroom, where they launched a knife attack on Ehud and Ruth Fogel. The parents fought back, attempting to fend off the attackers, but died of their stab wounds during the struggle.
The two then left the house. One of the suspects returned and stabbed the three-month-old baby Hadas to death in her crib.
According to Israel Radio, Amjad said that he was unaware that there were two other children in the house, and that if he knew, he would have stabbed them as well.
After completing the slaughter, the suspects walked back to the village, and told Hakim's uncle, PFLP member Salah Adin Awad, what they had done.
Salah hid their firearms, and instructed them to burn their cloths, which were covered in blood.
The youths then resumed their daily life, while Salah sent the weapons to a friend in Ramallah, named Jad Avid, who hid the guns in his home.
The Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) which led the investigation said the attack was a premeditated terror attack carried out by suspects who have affiliations with the PFLP.
"They received much support from family members and friends in their environment," the Shin Bet added.
Several suspected accomplices are also under arrest.
The IDF has arrested and questioned dozens of suspects in Awarta in recent weeks.
"The intelligence operation and pooling of resources [between the army, police and Shin Bet] led to the arrests," a joint statement said.
IDF Spokeswoman Lt. Col. Avital Leibovich said: “The murders of five family members including a three-month baby constitute a clear war crime and a crossing of all red lines. The IDF has invested in numerous operational and intelligence efforts, and has worked closely with other security forces in order to find those responsible for this vicious murder.”
