Senior Jihad suspect nabbed in Jenin

IDF troops on Wednesday arrested the most senior member of the Islamic Jihad terror organization, Iad Abou al-Rob, who is believed to be behind a number of deadly attacks in Israel.

Wanted for over a year by the security services, Abou al-Rob and another terror suspect, Firas Abou al-Rib, surrendered to troops who surrounded a house in Jenin in a standoff that lasted 16 hours, military sources said.

Abou al-Rob is suspected of having masterminded at least three deadly attacks against Israel, at the Hadera market in October, outside the Stage nightclub in Tel Aviv in February, and at a shopping mall in Netanya in July.

An IDF bulldozer proceeded in demolishing Abou al-Rob’s house prompting the two men to surrender. Troops found weapons and night vision equipment hidden in the house.

IDF troops and officers of an elite police unit clashed with Palestinian gunmen during the standoff.

Jenin: Officers injured from friendly fire

An initial IDF investigation revealed that the three officers injured during Wednesday morning's clashes between armed Palestinians and police in Jenin sustained wounds from friendly fire.

It appears that the three YAMAM members, the police’s elite counter-terrorism force, sustained wounds from shrapnel in an exchange of fire

with armed Palestinians, during an operation to detain local Islamic Jihad suspects.

Two of the wounded police officers were taken for treatment at Ha’emek Hospital in Afula.

The incident apparently occurred after troops besieged a home where the suspects were hiding.

Palestinians reported fierce clashes in the center of the town and said at least 10 Palestinians were hurt in the violence, including two who sustained serious wounds. Al Aqsa member Salah Foukra, who was shot in the head and chest, later died of his wounds.

The IDF said “a large-scale operation aimed at detained wanted suspects is being carried out. During the operation troops

encountered numerous disruptions of order and were forced to resort to crowd-dispersal means.”

Palestinian sources said a large Israeli force entered the city’s center early Wednesday. According to sources, the force was accompanied by dozens of jeeps and other military vehicles and imposed a curfew at the area where the operation was taking place.

Fierce gunfights promptly ensued at the scene involving Israeli forces and Palestinian gunmen.