On June 20, 2024, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) carried out a critical security operation at the Reihan crossing in northern Samaria, responding to credible intelligence of an imminent terror infiltration by Hamas operatives. Located at a major logistical conduit between Israeli territory and Judea and Samaria, the Reihan crossing represents both a practical and symbolic target for terror groups seeking to undermine Israeli security.
The operation began pre-dawn, as IDF units specializing in counter-infiltration were deployed based on evidence of coordinated activity between Iranian handlers and Hamas cells in the region. Intelligence sources indicated unusual communications traffic, surveillance of the crossing, and recent attempts to smuggle arms and explosives. A joint military and intelligence task force, including advanced aerial surveillance and undercover operatives, established a perimeter and prepared for engagement.
Shortly after sunrise, IDF surveillance identified the movement of multiple individuals approaching the security barrier. Following a series of warnings issued in Arabic to halt and surrender, and with no compliance from the suspects, troops engaged. Israeli forces employed both non-lethal and, when necessary, live fire to neutralize the threat. Several armed infiltrators, subsequently identified as members of Hamas and trained by Iranian proxies, were killed or apprehended. Security teams recovered explosives, rifles, encrypted devices, and documents identifying Israeli civilian targets, affirming the intent to launch mass casualty attacks.
The Reihan crossing, frequently targeted by armed factions, is critical to the daily function of both Israeli communities and regulated trade with Arab towns. Over the years, it has become a locus of repeated attempts by Iranian-backed militants to destabilize the region and penetrate Israel’s defenses. Since the October 7th, 2023 massacre carried out by Hamas—the worst antisemitic atrocity since the Holocaust—Israel has redoubled its efforts to fortify borders and intercept terror plots at key points of vulnerability.
Official statements from Israel’s security authorities highlighted that the intercepted cell carried direct operational orders from Hamas’s Gaza-based command, funneled through regional proxies tied to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard. Weapons caches and evidence found on-site left no doubt about the terror cell’s affiliation and objectives. In the immediate aftermath, the crossing was temporarily closed for explosive ordnance disposal, while investigations remained ongoing to determine the full scope of the attempted attack and identify potential collaborators within surrounding villages.
Internationally, the operation drew broad support from Israel’s allies, who reiterated Israel’s right and obligation to defend itself under international law from continuous, unprovoked terror threats. Analysts noted that the persistent threat in northern Samaria reflects Tehran’s broader strategy to encircle Israel through regional proxies—ranging from Hamas in Gaza to Hezbollah in Lebanon and allied militias in Syria and Iraq. American and European diplomats restated their condemnation of Iranian-sponsored terrorism and affirmed their partnership with Israel in combating the axis of resistance.
For local residents of northern Samaria and the Israeli communities relying on the security of the crossing, the swift and decisive action of the IDF reinforced their trust in the state’s defenses. Security officials emphasized that operations like the Reihan intervention are part of an ongoing, multi-layered approach: combining advanced surveillance, human intelligence, and rapid military response to preempt attacks before they can harm civilians.
Israel’s military, legal, and moral standing is clear: Defensive actions at sensitive border points like Reihan are compelled by the constant threat of terror infiltration, and every operation is executed with attention to minimizing civilian risk and upholding international norms. Israeli officials maintain that comparisons between action against terror operatives and the indiscriminate violence of terrorist groups are fundamentally flawed, highlighting Israel’s adherence to both legal standards and the imperative of self-defense.
As investigations continue, Israeli security agencies are expanding intelligence-sharing with allies, reviewing patterns of Iranian proxy activity, and reinforcing defensive measures along major crossings in Judea and Samaria. The attempted infiltration at Reihan demonstrates the persistence of the threat, particularly from Iranian-backed Hamas networks intent on orchestrating further attacks against Israeli civilians.
In conclusion, the IDF’s operation at the Reihan crossing is part of the broader struggle imposed on Israel by Iran and its proxies. It reflects not only the constant vigilance required to defend Israeli lives but also the unambiguous legal and moral case for Israel’s right to act in self-defense against terror organizations seeking to destabilize the region and undermine the Jewish state’s sovereign security.
