A Palestinian gunman was killed on Monday following an operation by border police undercover fighters along with IDF forces in the West Bank city of Nablus.
Israel Police reported that the initial operation took place in the home of a man previously wanted for his involvement in a prior attack on security forces. The man was arrested and a Carlo-type submachine gun was seized.
Following the operation, as security forces left the scene explosives were thrown by rioters, endangering the lives of the officers, who responded by firing at the terrorists. One of the terrorists was hit by the fire and was evacuated by the Palestinian Red Crescent for treatment, but succumbed to his wounds shortly after.
Three other Palestinians were reportedly wounded.
Tariq Ezz El-Din, spokesperson for the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement in the West Bank, responded to the incident overnight, saying that "the resistance will continue to confront the occupation's incursions into West Bank cities, whatever the cost."
Hamas responded to the incident as well, saying that the terrorist's death would "serve as fuel for the escalation of the resistance." The movement stated that increased clashes with Israeli security forces operating in the West Bank show that the Palestinians are "facing a new stage of struggle."
On Monday morning, clashes broke out between Palestinian Authority security forces and funeral-goers at the funeral of the terrorist killed overnight, with security forces firing tear gas and bullets.
شاهد| مصادر محلية: "إطلاق رصاص وقنابل الغاز خلال قمع الأجهزة الأمنية مسيرة تشييع جميل الكيال في نابلس".فلسطين pic.twitter.com/TRc888dCcw
— شبكة قدس الإخبارية (@qudsn) December 13, 2021
Additionally on Sunday night, Hassan Yousef, a Hamas leader in the West Bank, was arrested by Israeli security forces in Beitunia, near Ramallah, according to Palestinian reports. Palestinian media claimed that Hamas operatives were warned by both the PA and Israeli security forces against engaging in activities related to the 34th anniversary of the founding of Hamas.
The incident comes two days after a Palestinian man in his 30s was killed on Friday after a clash with Israeli soldiers in Givat Evyatar. He was brought to Rafidia Hospital in Nablus where he was pronounced dead.
Clashes in the area came despite IDF efforts to avoid friction with the Palestinian population during municipal elections in the Palestinian Authority. Under the direction of the commander of the division of Judea and Samaria, entry into the territory was banned for all of last weekend.
According to the directive issued for the weekend by the headquarters of the Judea and Samaria Division, any "urgent arrests" will be approved by division commander Brigadier General Avi Bluth.