A Palestinian Islamic Jihad commander and another Palestinian terrorist were killed in armed clashes between the IDF and Palestinians in Burqin, near Jenin, early on Thursday.
Armed clashes broke out when Israeli forces entered the city overnight to conduct arrests. Three Palestinians suspected of involvement in terrorist activities were arrested during the raid and three M-16 assault rifles were confiscated, according to the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit.
The IDF noted that Saadi was responsible for several shooting attacks against Israeli forces, as well as arming terrorists, at the direction of the Islamic Jihad. Zubaidi was also involved in shooting attacks against Israelis.
The IDF noted that Saadi was responsible for a series of shooting attacks against Israeli forces, as well as arming terrorists, at the direction of the Islamic Jihad. Zubaidi was also involved in shooting attacks against Israelis.
Palestinian factions in the city declared a strike and a “general mobilization” after the clashes. Palestinian Islamic Jihad spokesman Tariq Ezz El Din warned that “the massacre committed by Israel against our people and our resistance fighters in the Jenin camp at dawn today will not go unnoticed, and this criminal occupier will pay the price for his heinous crime.”
Israeli forces also operated in Dura and Dayr Samet, arresting four suspects and confiscating a handgun. Two additional suspects were arrested in Bayt Furik and Abu Shukhaydam.
The defense establishment is concerned that factions in the Gaza Strip could fire rockets toward Israel in light of the recent deaths, according to KAN news.
Prime Minister Yair Lapid praised the IDF operation, calling it a “direct continuation of our uncompromising policy in the fight against terrorism.”
“The two operatives who were foiled, a field commander in Jenin and a member of the Islamic Jihad, and a senior member of the Al-Aqsa Brigades in Jenin, planned and carried out attacks on Israeli territory,” added Lapid. “Precisely in these stormy days, when irresponsible parties are trying to drag the IDF into an extremist debate and incite soldiers against their commanders, I want to express my appreciation to the security forces. This is the way to fight terrorism, this is the way to protect the citizens of Israel.”
The tense situation in the West Bank
The clashes come amid heightened tensions in the West Bank amid a series of terrorist attacks and deadly clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinian terrorists throughout the West Bank.
On Tuesday, five Palestinians were killed in clashes with Israeli forces in Beit Ummar and Al-Mughayyir.
Last week, after Palestinian gunmen kidnapped the body of a Druze-Israeli teenager from a hospital in Jenin, Druze protesters threatened to enter the city themselves in order to retrieve the body. The body was later returned to Israel after extensive negotiations.
Jerusalem Post Staff contributed to this report.