From the Liveblog of
Friday, August 30, 2024
IDF, Shin Bet: Commander of Hamas military wing in Jenin, 2 operatives killed in IDF drone strike, shootout
Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent
The commander of Hamas’s military wing in the West Bank city of Jenin was killed, along with two other operatives, in clashes and drone strikes this morning, the IDF, Shin Bet, and police say.
According to the military, amid an ongoing operation in the northern West Bank, troops spotted a cell of gunmen in a car in the Jenin area town of Zababdeh.
Inside the car was Wissam Hazem, the head of Hamas’s terror network in Jenin.
Undercover Border Police officers opened fire at the car, killing Hazem, while the other two gunmen fled, the joint statement says. A short while later, a drone struck and killed the pair.
According to Israel, Hazem was involved in numerous shooting and bombing attacks, and was advancing additional attacks.
The other two gunmen, killed by the drone, are named by the IDF as Maysara Masharqa and Arafat Amer.
The military says they were Hamas members working under Hazem, and were also involved in shooting attacks, including against Israeli communities near the West Bank security barrier.
Inside the car and on the bodies of the terror operatives, the IDF says it recovered assault rifles, a handgun, and other weapons.
No troops were hurt in the incident.
