IDF troops carry out raid in Jenin, clash with Palestinian gunmen
Media reports say 2 brothers detained by special forces in northern West Bank; PA health ministry reports 8 wounded
Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent
Israeli troops clashed with Palestinian gunmen in the northern West Bank city of Jenin on Tuesday afternoon, according to the military and Palestinian media reports.
The Israel Defense Forces said troops were operating in the Jenin refugee camp, but did not immediately provide further details.
Palestinian media outlets said special forces detained two Palestinians and exchanged fire with local gunmen. The detained men were named as brothers Ahmed and Muhammad Jaradat.
According to the Palestinian Authority Health Ministry, eight people were wounded by gunfire amid the clashes. The official Wafa news agency said that included a 68-year-old woman who was hit in the hand and a paramedic who was hit by shrapnel.
While the IDF did not immediately confirm the arrests or further details surrounding the raid, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant hailed the operation, saying, “In their swift and courageous action in the refugee camp in Jenin, IDF and Shin Bet troops prevented serious attacks against Israeli citizens.”
“Security forces will continue to act any time and anywhere against any threat. We will pursue and reach our enemies,” he added on Twitter.
الاحتلال يستقدم جرافة عسكرية إلى مخيم جنين pic.twitter.com/P40C7YfTB5
— وكالة شهاب للأنباء (@ShehabAgency) April 18, 2023
Tensions between Israel and the Palestinians have been high for the past year, with the Israeli military conducting near-nightly raids in the West Bank amid a series of deadly Palestinian terror attacks.
Palestinian attacks in Israel and the West Bank have left 19 people dead since the beginning of the year and several more seriously hurt.
At least 92 Palestinians have been killed since the beginning of the year, most of them while carrying out attacks or during clashes with security forces, but some were uninvolved civilians and others were killed under circumstances that are being investigated.
