Palestinians: IDF killed 7 in Jenin area

Seven Palestinians, among them a security officer and Islamic Jihad and Fatah’s al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades members were killed Sunday afternoon in two separate IDF operations in the Jenin area.

According to IDF sources, one of those killed was a senior Islamic Jihad leader in the West Bank.

Palestinian sources said a special IDF force operating in Qabatiyeh, near Jenin, shot to death six al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades members.

Special IDF, police force operating in area since the afternoon (Photo: Reuters) 

Among those killed were two brothers affiliated with Fatah's military wing, the al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades.

Palestinian medical sources identified the brothers as Sahir and Mujahid Hanisha.

Another al-Aqsa member killed in Qabatiyeh was identified as Jihad Kmayel, who, according to the Palestinians, was not wanted by the IDF.

Three other al-Aqsa members, who have not been identified as of yet, were reportedly killed by IDF forces.

Special IDF, Israel Police force operating in area

According to Palestinian reports the IDF has surrounded a home in Qabatiyeh and a bulldozer was brought to the site.

Security establishment officials said one of the gunmen killed in Qabatiyeh was Elias Ashkar, considered a senor Islamic Jihad leader in northern Samaria responsible for a series of terror attacks and the transporting of suicide terrorists. Among other attacks, Ashkar was involved in the attack on the food strand at Tel Aviv’s Central Bus Station just about a month ago.

A special IDF and Israel Police force has been operating in the area since the afternoon hours against Islamic Jihad terrorists. Palestinian sources said part of the operation is taking place near a kindergarten, with soldiers engaging in heavy exchanges of fire with gunmen.

Earlier Sunday, Palestinian sources said the Islamic Jihad commander in the Jenin area, Sheikh Mohammad Saadi, narrowly escaped arrest by IDF soldiers. The IDF denied it had attempted to arrest Saadi, rebuffing Palestinian reports that he was seriously injured from IDF fire.

'IDF soldiers blocked entrance of Palestinian ambulance'

Also on Sunday, Palestinian sources said that a security officer died in exchanges of fire between the IDF and wanted terror suspects in the West Bank town of Jenin.

Ali Jbarin, 24, served in the Palestinian Authority Intelligence Headquarters in the city.

Eyewitnesses said IDF troops came under fire as they surrounded the house of a wanted terror suspect in the city.

Soldiers fired at gunmen in the house and at the PA intelligence building, mortally wounding Jbarin. According to the Palestinians, IDF soldiers blocked the entrance of a Palestinian ambulance to the area, resulting in Jbarin’s eventual death.

The IDF said the wanted terror suspect and Islamic Jihad member is the brother of a suicide bomber who carried out an attack in Israel.

Efrat Weiss contributed to the report