From the Liveblog of
Friday, November 17, 2023
IDF says it killed 5 gunmen during overnight Jenin counter-terror operation
Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent
The IDF says troops clashed with gunmen during a raid in the West Bank city of Jenin and adjacent refugee camp overnight, capturing weapons and chasing terror operatives attempting to hide in a hospital.
The operation in the Jenin camp was led by the Kfir Brigade, and was aimed at uncovering explosive devices belonging to local terror groups.
The IDF says a drone struck a group of gunmen shooting at the forces amid the raid. Other Palestinians hurling explosives were shot at during clashes.
It says troops killed at least five Palestinian gunmen, and captured six assault rifles in the Jenin camp. Palestinian media reported three dead, with the discrepancy in numbers not immediately clear.
Meanwhile, Border Police says officers detained seven wanted Palestinians in Jenin, including Qasem Jabari, a member of a local terror group.
Police and the IDF say a group of gunmen fled in cars and an ambulance toward Ibn Sina hospital in the city to hide there. Border Police officers managed to stop one of the cars outside the hospital, and detain one of the gunmen. Inside the car, the officers found three assault rifles, footage shows.
צה"ל, שב"כ ומג"ב פועלים כנגד ארגון הטרור חמאס ברחבי יהודה ושומרון.
הלילה מופו שלושת בתי המחבלים שביצעו את הפיגוע במחסום המנהרות אתמול בו נהרג רב"ט אברהם פטנה ז"ל.
כוחות הביטחון עצרו הלילה 21 מבוקשים ברחבי פיקוד המרכז, שישה מתוכם משויכים לארגון הטרור חמאס >> pic.twitter.com/gPP7OvPDWh— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) November 17, 2023
The IDF says it also operated in Hebron overnight, to measure the homes of three Palestinian gunmen who opened fire at a checkpoint near Jerusalem yesterday, killing Avraham Fetena, 20, a Military Police soldier, ahead of their potential demolition.
