IDF kills 2 Palestinians, including Hamas commander, in northern West Bank clashes
Army says Mohammad Omar Daraghmeh was a ‘central Hamas operative’ in the Tubas area, was planning ‘significant terror acts’ against Israel
Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent
Two Palestinian gunmen were killed early Friday in confrontations with Israeli forces in the West Bank, Palestinian medics and the army said, with the Islamic terror group Hamas later acknowledging one of those killed was a local commander in its military wing.
The Palestine Red Crescent Society said another three people were wounded, including one who sustained serious injuries, during the clashes in the northern West Bank town of Tubas and the adjacent refugee camp of al-Faraa. The area around Tubas is a stronghold of Palestinian armed groups and the frequent target of Israeli military incursions.
Mohammad Omar Daraghmeh, the head of a local Hamas infrastructure in Tubas, was killed during an exchange of fire with troops, the Israel Defense Forces said.
Amid the overnight incident, Daraghmeh shot at troops from a vehicle, who then returned fire, killing him. Several firearms and other military equipment were seized from his car.
Daraghmeh was a “central Hamas operative” in the Tubas area and in recent months was working on “advancing significant terror acts against Israel,” according to the IDF.
Hamas confirmed Daraghmeh’s death and that he was a member of the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades.
حركة حماس: "ننعى الشهيد القسامي المجاهد محمد رسول عمر دراغمة، نجل الشهيد الأسير القيادي عمر دراغمة، الذي ارتقى صباح يوم الجمعة بعملية اغتيال جبانة نفذها الاحتلال في مدينة طوباس". pic.twitter.com/IAaKvncJ9i
— وكالة شهاب للأنباء (@ShehabAgency) April 12, 2024
The IDF said the second Palestinian man, named by Palestinian media as Mohammad Shahmawi, was killed when troops opened fire on Palestinians who were shooting and throwing explosive devices at them.
Hamas said it mourned Shahmawi’s death, but did not claim him as a member of the terror group.
Since October 7, troops have arrested some 3,700 wanted Palestinians across the West Bank, including more than 1,600 affiliated with Hamas. According to the Palestinian Authority health ministry, more than 450 West Bank Palestinians have been killed in that time. The IDF says the vast majority of them were gunmen or terrorists carrying out attacks.
Agencies and Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.
