Border officer seriously wounded in Tulkarem clash, wanted suspect killed

A Border Police officer was seriously wounded during clashes with Palestinian gunmen in the West Bank city of Tulkarem this morning, during which a wanted terror suspect was killed.

Undercover Border Police officers had entered Tulkarem to detain Ahmad Awfi, who the IDF, Shin Bet, and police say was wanted for his involvement in several shooting attacks at troops and Israeli settlements, as well as the execution of two Palestinians accused of spying for Israel.

A joint statement says the officers and IDF troops encircled the building where Awfi was holed up, and applied a tactic known as “pressure cooker” that involves escalating the volume of fire directed at a building to force suspects to come out.

A gun battle ensued and Awfi was killed and his weapon was seized, the statement says.

The Palestinian Health Ministry confirms Awfi’s death as well as that of a second man, 19, apparently involved in clashes with troops.

The IDF says troops opened fire at other Palestinian gunmen who were shooting and hurling explosive devices at them.

One Border Police officer was seriously wounded in the clashes.

In a separate raid on the outskirts of Ramallah, the IDF says troops detained a senior Hamas operative.

Since October 7, troops have arrested more than 3,100 wanted Palestinians across the West Bank, including more than 1,350 affiliated with Hamas.