Five Palestinians killed in intense clashes with Israeli forces

At least five Palestinians were killed by IDF troops after armed clashes broke out between Palestinians and Israeli security forces from Saturday night through Sunday morning during a wave of arrest operations across the West Bank. 

The clashes are still ongoing. 

The wave of arrests in five different locations in the West Bank targeted a Hamas cell that Israeli security forces had been tracking for several days.

IDF Spokesperson Brig.-Gen. Ran Kohav told reporters on Sunday morning that Duvdevan special unit troops carried out arrests that took place in the town of Burqin, west of Jenin, Qabatiya, and Beit ‘Anan north of Jerusalem.

Three armed Palestinians were killed in the clashes in Beit ‘Anan. According to Palestinian media, IDF troops surrounded a building in the area of Ain Ajab near Beit ‘Anan after which they were seen carrying away a body.

Palestinian media also reported clashes in the village of Beit Fajjar, south of Bethlehem, and in Hebron. 

According to Kohav, since the Palestinians killed by IDF troops belonged to Hamas he could not ascertain if the terror group will fire rockets towards Israel in response. 

“This was a Hamas cell, one that we have been following for a long time with intelligence from the Shin Bet. There’s always a chance that there can be rockets, especially since this was a Hamas cell and the group is always trying to connect Gaza to the West Bank,” he said.

Israeli security forces carry out near-nightly raids in the West Bank in an effort to arrest wanted Palestinians as well as to uncover unofficial workshops producing illegal weapons and confiscate funds that could be used for terror. 

The Jerusalem Post was told by a security source that Jenin is one of the more violent cities in the West Bank.

Since Operation Guardian of the Walls and the cancellation of the Palestinian Authority elections, both Hamas and Fatah fighting for dominance.  With armed struggle bringing out more support following the May fighting, armed cells are feeling more confident to engage Israeli security forces, the source said.

Earlier in the night, Palestinian media reported that Palestinians had fired towards the Jalameh Checkpoint near Jenin amid arrests in the city. Violence near the checkpoint has been frequent since six prisoners escaped from Gilboa Prison earlier this month, with two of the prisoners escaping to Jenin. All six prisoners were rearrested within two weeks.
The firefight comes just over a day after Mohammad Ali Khabisa, 28, was killed during clashes with IDF soldiers near Beita, south of Nablus in the West Bank.



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