From Military says 2 senior terror operatives killed in West Bank operation
Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent
Border Police, the Israel Defense Forces and Shin Bet say troops killed two senior terror operatives in the West Bank’s Jenin refugee camp.
Another two Palestinians were reported killed amid clashes in the area.
The joint statement says troops killed Muhammad Zubeidi, a senior Palestinian Islamic Jihad operative in the Jenin camp who was responsible for several shooting attacks in the area, and Hussam Hanoun, another local operative.
The Shin Bet says Zubeidi was involved in a terror attack near the settlement of Hermesh in May, in which Meir Tamari was killed, and another attack in June, in which a civilian and four soldiers were wounded. It says Zubeidi was involved in planning the attacks and providing the car for the attacks.
Islamic Jihad commander in Jenin, Muhammed Zubeidi and Wissam Hanoun. Israeli forces killed both in Jenin earlier today. pic.twitter.com/5Ec6fTmu1d
— Joe Truzman (@JoeTruzman) November 29, 2023
The IDF and Border Police say that overnight, forces surrounded a building in the camp where Zubeidi and other operatives were holed up, and opened fire. The troops later entered the building and seized two assault rifles from the bodies of Zubeidi and Hanoun.
Separately, troops arrested 17 wanted Palestinians in the area, seized weapons, and located a tunnel shaft and a lathe for manufacturing guns, the IDF says.
Clashes erupted in the area amid the operation, with Palestinian gunmen opening fire at troops and others hurling explosive devices. The IDF says the troops returned fire, and carried out a drone strike against a group of gunmen in the area overnight.
According to the Palestinian Authority health ministry, a 15-year-old and 8-year-old were killed by Israeli fire as the operation continued today.
