St.-Sgt. Elkana Navon was killed as the army battled with terrorists in Jenin, the IDF announced on Saturday.
In the battles, 14 terrorists were also killed as explosions were heard in the al-Damj neighborhood, according to Maariv.
A source in Hamas’s Al-Qassam Brigades leadership told Qatari state-run media giant Al Jazeera that the terror organization has prepared itself for long days of confrontations with the IDF.
“We reassure our people that the resistance, with all its formations in the West Bank, is in the best stages of coordination,” the source said.
Walla reported that the IDF is increasing the amount of force in the area. Apache helicopters were flying over Jenin, according to Arab media.
The IDF has also operated in Tulkarm in recent days, where five terrorists were killed and six wanted individuals were arrested.
Explosives planted on the roads by terrorists were also destroyed by Israeli forces. They also located weapons in a suspicious vehicle near the government hospital in Tulkarm.
פעילות צה"ל ביו"ש: במבצע בטולכרם בימים האחרונים, חמישה מחבלים חוסלו ושישה מבוקשים נעצרו. במבצע בג'נין חוסלו 14 (צילום: צה"ל) pic.twitter.com/koqTrlqapo @ItayBlumental מחבלים והושמדו עשרות מטענים | תיעוד
— כאן חדשות (@kann_news) August 31, 2024
What do Arab reports say?
Palestinian Authority-run news outlet Wafa stated that Saturday was the fourth consecutive day of Israeli activities in Jenin.
Wafa claimed that Palestinians there had been shot by Israeli forces but did not note whether or not they were armed combatants.
Hamas later reported the death of one of its operatives in the al-Damj neighborhood.
The terrorist, named by Hamas as Muhammad Abu Al-Talal Harboush, was reportedly killed while attempting to ambush Israeli personnel in the area.