The Israeli navy thwarted an attempt by Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), a Gaza-based terror group that is backed by Iran, to carry out a “major” terror attack, The Jerusalem Post reported Wednesday.

The incident took place last month, when the IDF boarded a fishing boat that had gone beyond the distance it was allowed to travel from Gaza. The IDF arrested ten Palestinians and took them into custody.

During interrogation, one of those arrested, Amin Sa’adi Muhammad Jum’a, the alleged ringleader, confessed that the boat was part of a plot to lure an Israeli patrol boat into an attack. The goal was to get an Israeli boat to approach the first boat, after which a second boat would fire a Kornet missile at it. The terrorists would then board the Israeli vessel to kidnap sailors who survived the initial attack.

According to the Shin Bet, Jum’a had been collecting intelligence for PIJ for a while in preparation for the attack.

“I praise the IDF and the ISA for thwarting the terrorist attack at sea planned by the Islamic Jihad terrorist organization. The security forces will operate on every front to protect the State of Israel and its citizens,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said. He continued, “This is proof of the true intentions of the terror organizations in Gaza which are trying to camouflage their murderous intentions by organizing provocations on the security fence, the goal of which is to provide cover for terrorists to carry out acts of terrorism against Israel.”

This is the latest attempt by PIJ to attack Israel. Members of PIJ were killed, along with members of Hamas, in October when Israel destroyed a terror tunnel that was being built into Israel. According to the IDF the terror group also launched mortars into Israel late last year.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said last year that Israel would hold Hamas responsible for any terror attack launched from Gaza given the terror group’s complete military control over the territory.
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