Two Palestinian terror group fighters had been killed in heavy clashes with Israeli troops that broke out throughout a pre-dawn arrest raid close to the northern West Financial institution’s Jenin refugee camp.
The Israel Protection Forces stated particular forces from the Haruv and Duvedan items entered the adjoining city of Wadi Burqin to arrest three Palestinians suspected of involvement in terror exercise.
The navy stated troops got here below heavy hearth throughout the operation and responded with gunshots of their very own, including that “hits had been recognized.”
The casualties had been recognized as Mohammed Ayman Saadi from Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) and Na’im Zubeidi from the Fatah-linked al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, although the assorted armed factions are recognized to work collectively in Jenin in opposition to the IDF.
The IDF and Shin Guess safety company stated in a joint assertion that the pair had been senior terror operatives. Each of the killed gunmen had been of their 20s however had already served time in Israeli jails for safety offenses.
Saadi was a “outstanding PIJ navy operative” liable for a collection of capturing assaults in opposition to troops, and arming different operatives, below the instructions of the PIJ management, the assertion stated.
*الشهيد القائد الميداني ”محمد أيمن السعدي” ‘أبو الأيمن’* الي رضوان الله يا أسد الكتيبة pic.twitter.com/pOtmjL6I12
— أبوجميل العزازي #غزة#فلسطين???????? (@abu_jamil_) December 1, 2022
The assertion stated Zubeidi was additionally liable for quite a few shootings at Israeli forces within the West Financial institution. Palestinian media stated Zubeidi was a relative of Zakaria Zubeidi, a infamous Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades terrorist who masterminded terror assaults throughout the Second Intifada and managed to briefly escape from Israeli jail final 12 months.
Prime Minister Yair Lapid hailed the operation, saying the pair had deliberate and carried out terror assaults in Israel.
“The exercise of the IDF and the safety forces tonight in Jenin is a direct continuation of our uncompromising coverage within the combat in opposition to terrorism. The 2 senior [terroritsts] who had been killed, an Islamic Jihad discipline commander in Jenin, and a senior member of the al-Aqsa Brigades in Jenin, deliberate and carried out terror assaults in Israeli territory,” Lapid stated on Twitter.
“Exactly in these stormy days, when irresponsible events are attempting to tug the IDF into an excessive debate and incite troopers in opposition to their commanders, I need to specific my appreciation to the safety forces,” he stated, referring to right-wing lawmakers’ criticism of punishment for a soldier who taunted an activist in Hebron final week.
“That is the best way to combat terrorism, that is the best way to guard the residents of Israel. Handle your self,” Lapid added.
كتيبة جنين: “ننعى أبرز قادة سرايا القدس الأبطال، الشهيد القائد الميداني محمد أيمن السعدي “أبو الأيمن” (26 عامآ) قائد كتيبة جنين، والشهيد البطل رجل الظل الشامخ والسند الحامي للمقاومة القائد الكبير نعيم جمال زبيدي (27 عامآ)، الذين ارتقوا إثر عملية اغتيال جبانة فجر اليوم”. pic.twitter.com/6mVDyzRoZ2
— وكالة شهاب للأنباء (@ShehabAgency) December 1, 2022
Troops additionally seized three M-16 assault rifles throughout the raid, the IDF stated.
Palestinian media reported that as many as 20 individuals had been wounded at various levels, and the hospital in Jenin declared a state of emergency, urging locals to come back and donate blood.
The IDF stated no troopers had been harm within the operation.
Weapons seized by Israeli troops after a raid within the West Financial institution city of Wadi Burqin, close to Jenin, December 1, 2022. (Israel Protection Forces).
In an announcement early Thursday, an Islamic Jihad spokesman vowed to extract a value in opposition to Israel for the “heinous crime.”
Over the previous 12 months, the Gaza Strip-based PIJ has launched rockets at Israel in response to members being killed or arrested within the West Financial institution.
Tons of of Jenin residents had been filmed participating in a funeral procession for one of many killed fighters that departed from the town’s hospital.
The Jenin refugee camp and the encompassing space have been recognized as a terror hotbed by the IDF, which says it has been compelled to function broadly within the city that’s in Palestinian Authority-controlled Space A of the West Financial institution for the reason that PA has misplaced management within the space. Ramallah maintains that the Israeli raids solely additional hurt its legitimacy within the West Financial institution.
The pair killed early Thursday morning had been the seventh and eighth Palestinians killed within the West Financial institution in lower than three days.
شاهد| تغطية صحفية: “مسيرة حاشدة تحمل جثماني الشهـ ـيدين محمد السعدي ونعيم الزبيدي وتجوب شوارع مخيم #جنين “. pic.twitter.com/pHdZbFfuHu
— وكالة شهاب للأنباء (@ShehabAgency) December 1, 2022
One was killed in clashes with Israeli troops within the northern West Financial institution city of Yabed on Wednesday afternoon. 4 Palestinians had been killed in clashes with the IDF all through the West Financial institution on Tuesday and one other Palestinian was killed after finishing up a car-ramming assault that severely wounded a soldier that very same day.
Tensions have been excessive within the West Financial institution over the previous 12 months, with the IDF launching a serious anti-terror offensive largely centered on the northern West Financial institution to cope with a collection of Palestinian assaults which have left 31 individuals in Israel and the West Financial institution useless for the reason that begin of the 12 months.
The operation has netted greater than 2,500 arrests in near-nightly raids, however has additionally left greater than 150 Palestinians useless, a lot of them — however not all — whereas finishing up assaults or throughout clashes with safety forces.
The IDF stated troops arrested six different wished Palestinians throughout in a single day raids throughout the West Financial institution, and seized a handgun.
Final month, the UN Mideast envoy stated 2022 is heading in the right direction to be the deadliest 12 months for Palestinians within the West Financial institution for the reason that UN began monitoring fatalities in 2005.
On the identical time, there was a steep rise in settler assaults in opposition to Palestinians and safety forces.
Occasions of Israel workers contributed to this report.
