The IDF and ISA eliminated nine terrorists in two IAF strikes in the area of Tulkarm. Following the precise elimination of the terrorist cell that was on its way to carry out a terror attack, the security forces initiated a counterterrorism operation in the Tulkarm area. As part of the counterterrorism operation, an IDF aircraft struck an armed terrorist cell that fired at the forces in the area of Tulkarm. A large amount of weaponry was located on the eliminated terrorists. Among the terrorists eliminated was Haitham Balidi, the murderer of Elhanan Ariel Klein, who was killed in a terror attack adjacent to the community of Einav, and 'Yamam' fighter Superintendent Yitav Lev Halevi, who succumbed to his wounds after being critically injured during encounters with terrorists in a counterterrorism operation in Tulkarm. Also, the terrorists Ali Khalil and Jamal Abu Haniya, who murdered Amnon Mokhtar in Qalqilya, were eliminated. Another terrorist who was killed in the attack is Islamic Jihad operative Jaber Tsaba, who was involved in many shooting and explosive attacks against Israeli settlements, including Bat Hefer, Avni Hefetz and Einav.
The terrorist Haitham Balidi was responsible for many terror attacks throughout Judea and Samaria in which Israeli civilians were injured.
Also eliminated was the Islamic Jihad terrorist Abed Al-Jabbar Al-Sabbagh, affiliated with the terrorist network in the Nur Shams Camp, who was involved in a large number of shooting and explosive attacks against Israeli communities, including Bat Hefer, Avnei Hefetz, and Einav.
I
Over the past few months, cooperation was identified between the Hamas terrorist organization in Tulkarm and additional terrorists in Nur Shams, in an attempt to carry out terror attacks against Israeli targets.