An IDF force operating in the West Bank town of Qabatiya near Jenin on Sunday night killed the commander of the Islamic Jihad's military wing, the al-Quds Brigades, Palestinian sources reported.
The man, Mahmoud Nazal, was considered one of the organization's commanders in the West Bank.
According to the Palestinian report, members of the organization driving in a Volkwagen Polo car encountered Israeli soldiers disguised as Arabs, who blocked their way with a commercial van. Immediately afterwards, the soldiers began shooting at the Jihad members, killing Nazal. Another group member was killed.
Nazal's deputy, Yousef Sweiti, was in the vehicle but disappeared immediately after the incident, and it is unclear whether he managed to escape or was injured.
Defense establishment officials reported that a special police force operating in Qabatiya killed a wanted Islamic Jihad member and arrested at least two other wanted Palestinians. Three Kalashnikov and M-16 rifles and three pistols were found in the wanted men's vehicle. There were no injuries among the police officers.
According to estimates, the Islamic Jihad member was killed by the Israeli force. The wanted men were taken in for questioning by security forces.
Palestinians reported that in a second incident, which took place nearby, al-Aqsa members managed to escape from the force operating in the area.
The Islamic Jihad fired five rockets at Sderot and the western Negev on Sunday. The organization promised to continue to launch rockets and carry out terror attacks in response to the assassination of its members in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.
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