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BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- Israeli forces detained two Palestinian citizens of Israel for alleged involvement in a terror cell reportedly planning to carry out an attack in the Negev of southern Israel, Israeli media reported on Tuesday.

Israeli media outlet Ynet reported that Israeli authorities cleared for publication on Tuesday the arrest last month of two alleged cell members: Mohammad Masri, 37, from Beer Sheva who was reportedly the leader and Abdullah Abu Iyash, 26 from Kuseife.

An investigation undertaken by Shin Bet, Israel’s internal security agency, and the Israeli police reportedly uncovered that the two were planning an attack in response to the Israeli government banning the Islamic Movement’s northern branch last month.

According to Ynet, Masri and Iyash were planning to attack Israeli soldiers and “planned to target three possible places in the southern region of the country–in Dimona, Arad, or at the gates of the Netavim Air Base. The two also conducted observations of their targets.”

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