IDF kills al-Aqsa commander in Jenin
IDF confirms it shot at Palestinians planting explosives in Jenin, but Palestinian sources claim plain-clothes soldiers ambushed Fatah armed wing leader Fida Abu Qandil, who also serves in PA national security force, on his way to work
Palestinians sources, however, related a different version of the incident: Sources told Ynet that Abu Qandil, who serves as a police officer in the Palestinian national security forces, was heading towards his workplace shortly after 5:00 a.m. along with an Islamic Jihad activist whom he works with.
According to Palestinians, two IDF soldiers dressed in civilian clothing and sitting in a Mazda car ambushed Abu Qandil on the way to his workplace. When Abu Qandil approached, the soldiers opened fire, killing Abu Qandil and wounding the Islamic Jihad activist, whom they then arrested. Palestinian sources said that recently, special IDF forces have been operating extensively in Jenin. A senior member of the al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades said that they would not accept the assassination of Abu Qandil in silence, and threatened a harsh response against Israel.
Armed Palestinians hurled stones and Molotov cocktails at IDF soldiers in Jericho. No one was wounded and no damage was caused. Soldiers responded with means for crowd dispersal.
Overnight IDF forces arrested nine Palestinian fugitives in the West Bank, including three Islamic Jihad operatives suspected of involvement in the kidnapping an murder of Eliyahu Asheri. In addition, a Tanzim operative was arrested in Nablus, two Islamic Jihad suspects were detained in Bethlehem, a Tanzim operative and Islamic Jihad operative were arrested in Hebron, and an Islamic Jihad suspect was arrested west of Ramallah.
Efrat Weiss contributed to the report.
