The violence erupted during ongoing counterterrorism activities by the IDF, Israel Security Agency (ISA, Shin Bet) and Border Police Special Operations units throughout the West Bank districts of Judea and Samaria as part of Operation Waves Breaker.
By Jonathan Hessen and Erin Viner
Israeli security forces entered the city of Jenin this morning, following concrete intelligence led them to the hideout of a high-level terror operative involved in several shooting attacks on on IDF troops, in addition to the killing of IDF Command Sergeant Major Noam Raz on 13 May.
According to the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit, “during the activity, a suspect hurled an explosive device at IDF soldiers, who responded with live fire.” And while a brief exchange of shooting, the suspect ultimately surrendered to the Israeli forces. No injuries were reported to the Israeli troops.
Five suspected Palestinian terror operatives were successfully apprehended in overnight activities.
In related developments, two Palestinians terrorists reportedly died in separate incidents with Israeli security forces in the West Bank yesterday.
In accordance with standard operating procedures, the IDF said a Palestinian man succumbed to his wounds after Israeli forces fired at him vandalizing the separation fence near Jenin. Soldiers treated the man at the scene before he was taken to a hospital, said the Israeli military statement.
Another terrorist was killed during a firefight with Israeli soldiers in Nablus. The Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades of the Fatah faction, which dominates the Palestinian Authority, claimed the deceased as a member.
While the IDF did not confirm the operatives’ death, it said Israeli forces had been securing the entrance for Jewish worshippers at Joseph’s Tomb near the West Bank Palestinian city of Nablus.
Palestinian gunmen shot and hurled explosive devices at the Israeli troops, who responded with live fire. The assailant who was killed reportedly died when his bomb exploded before he managed to release it. Three other Palestinian rioters were injured in the violence, while there were no injuries among the Jewish worshippers or security forces.
The ancient shrine of the Biblical figure of Joseph, son of Jacob, has been the scene of repeated attacks by Palestinians against Jewish visitors; and Nablus has been an epicenter of battles between Palestinian terrorists and Israeli forces in recent months.
IDF, Israel Security Agency (ISA, Shin Bet) and Border Police Special Operations forces have been conducting counterterrorism activity in the Jordan Valley, Judea and Samaria as part of the half-year-long Operation Waves Breaker launched by Jerusalem’s defense establishment to root-out terror elements following a deadly surge of attacks against Israelis that killed 21 people since last March,