IDF forces immediately launched a hot pursuit, with gunfire directed at the fleeing suspects. Two terrorists were apprehended in the initial chase, as reported by Channel 14's Hillel Biton Rosen. The pursuit continued for additional accomplices, leading to the interception of the getaway vehicle by Border Police (Magav) units. Items seized included five helmets, long firearms, and IDF uniforms—equipment that closely mirrored gear used by elite Israeli special forces in high-risk missions.
In a cross-authority development, an additional suspect was detained by Palestinian Authority security forces, bringing the total captures to at least three. The detainees are currently in custody with the elite IDF fighters who apprehended them, pending further interrogation.
The robbery has sparked widespread concern over its implications for regional security. Biton Rosen described the event as a "bright red warning light" for Israel's defense apparatus, highlighting a "deep conceptual failure" in preventing such infiltrations. He warned that the terrorists' access to specialized vehicles, uniforms, and military-grade equipment could foreshadow more lethal attacks: "If we do not wake up, the day is not far off when such terrorists will carry out an attack inside a Jewish community, with the goal of murder rather than robbery."
Local residents and analysts echoed these fears, noting the ease with which the disguised group operated in broad daylight. "Let’s just hope that next time they don’t try to enter a Jewish community with the vehicle, the weapons, and the car," Yitach added in his first report.
The IDF has not released further details on the ongoing investigation or the value of the stolen gold, but sources indicate heightened patrols in the Hebron area.
