An elite Border Guard unit shot and killed one of Hamas’ commanders in the West Bank town of Jenin wanted by security forces for killing an IDF soldier in November.
Ziad Suleiman Khalil Moussa, 28, of Marka near Jenin, was located in Jenin Wednesday afternoon and killed in exchanges of fire between Border Guard policemen and Palestinian gunmen in the West Bank town.
Moussa was responsible for the killing of IDF Sergeant Yonatan Evron, 20, near Jenin last month.
A trained police dog was killed and a policeman was lightly wounded during the operation. The policeman was treated at the scene and then taken to Afula’s Emek hospital.
Two Palestinian gunmen were also injured and taken to a Jenin hospital in Palestinian ambulances.
Palestinian Authority officials said Moussa’s killing will draw Hamas back into the cycle of violence, after a long period of commitment to a truce with Israel.
Fears over a renewal of violence against Israel grew in light of recent comments by Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal saying his group is no longer committed to the ceasefire with Israel.