Special to WorldTribune.com

RAMALLAH — The Palestinian Authority has helped foil an unmanned aerial vehicle attack on Israel.

PA sources said Palestinian security forces detected a Hamas squad directed to assemble a UAV for an attack on Israel in late 2013.

The sources said the UAV was designed to carry an explosive payload that could target an Israeli critical facility.

“They were students who built the aircraft with the help of the Internet,” a source said.

The source said the West Bank students completed a crude version of a miniature pilotless aircraft. He did not elaborate.

Hamas confirmed a PA operation against the purported UAV squad. Three Palestinians, all identified as engineering students at the Hamas-dominated Hebron University in the southern West Bank, have been arrested.

“This marks new proof of security cooperation between the occupation
[Israel] and the services of the Palestinian Authority,” Hamas said on Oct. 25.

The sources said the Hamas regime in the Gaza Strip has been directing
squads in the West Bank to conduct attacks against Israeli soldiers and
civilians. They said Hamas sought to work with all elements of Palestinian
society.

“They [PA] are hindering all efforts of resistance and protecting the
security of the occupation,” Hamas said.

Neither Israel nor the PA reported the UAV plot. The sources said the PA
confiscated the UAV, which underwent several trials.

  Gaza Strip, Hamas drone plot against Israel foiled by Palestinian Authority, Hebron University, West Bank