Al-Aqsa member killed in West Bank

Palestinian sources reported early Sunday that a senior al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades member shot by IDF troops in the West Bank town of Jenin during the night, died from his injuries.

The sources said the suspect, Shoja'a Balawi, had been killed at close range.

According to IDF officials, the Balawi's body was found in ones of the houses during a search for wanted terror suspects. Officials said he was wanted by the security forces.

A Kalashnikov rifle was also found near the body.

Earlier, IDF forces shot and killed a Palestinian around midnight, as he was trying to plant an explosive device in southern Gaza, by the border fence.

On Thursday, a similar incident took place, when two Palestinians approached the fence and were shot by an IDF force. One of the men was killed.

The IDF force identified two Palestinians crawling towards the fence, north of the Sufa crossing.

The two Palestinians began cutting away at the fence which follows the electronic security fence. T

he two men raised the suspicions of the soldiers, as they were following characteristic procedures for planting explosives, in an apparent attempt to harm an IDF force patrolling the region.

Since the IDF's Gaza exit, 19 explosive devices have been found and detonated along the electronic security fence.

Terror organizations use the devices as an attempt to carry out attacks on IDF forces, and devices have turned into a favorite terrorist weapon, alongside mortar shells and Qassam rockets.

Three days ago, a 22 year-old Hamas member was killed in a similar incident.

The IDF said that the incident showed how Hamas was continuing to carry out "quiet terror operations," despite declaring that it was a participant of the ceasefire.

Ali Waked and Efrat Weiss contributed to the report