More than 20 terrorist suspects were arrested during the Nablus operation (19 belonged to Fatah's Aksa Martyrs Brigades), including 10 whom IDF sources said were involved in shooting attacks and placing bombs along roads in the area. A ready-for-use suicide explosive belt was also discovered.

On Friday, PA Prime Minister Salaam Fayad accused Israel of compromising nascent Israeli-Palestinian peacemaking with the Nablus raid. In a radio interview Saturday, Fayad said he had called off a trip to Egypt to meet with Arab foreign ministers to attend to the developing situation in Nablus.

"The current Israeli operation aims to heat up the atmosphere before [US President George W.] Bush's visit," he told an-Najah Radio. "They are trying to sabotage the Palestinian Authority's successes in the city."