Palestinian gunmen clash with Israeli troops during arrest raid in Jenin
Palestinian gunmen clashed with Israeli troops in Jenin as undercover officers raided a business in the northern West Bank city late Sunday, Israeli authorities said.
Three Palestinians were moderately wounded during the skirmish, according to Palestinian media reports, citing local health authorities.
A spokesperson for Israel’s Border Police unit confirmed that troops opened fire and said three people were arrested during the late night operation.
Footage shared on social media showed troops operating in the eastern part of the city. Heavy gunfire and explosions could be heard in other clips.
The gun battle was touched off by a raid on a Jenin business by undercover Border Police troops to arrest an undisclosed number of terror suspects, the Border Police spokesperson said in a statement.
Following the arrests, violent riots developed, including live fire and explosives from various ranges directed at [Israeli] forces,” the spokesperson said. “The undercover officers, Border Police troops and Israel Defense Forces soldiers returned fire toward the terrorists.”
???? متابعة صفا| قوة خاصة للاحتلال تقتحم الحي الشرقي في جنين pic.twitter.com/oaYLtyQ5aT
— وكالة صفا (@SafaPs) December 11, 2022
No Israeli troops were injured.
A local wing of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror group confirmed opening fire and hurling explosives at Israeli troops.
The three arrested suspects were handed over to the Shin Bet security service, and an M16 rifle used by the Palestinians was seized, Israel said.
#شاهد اشتباكات مسلحة بين مقاومون وجيش الاحتلال في الحي الشرقي بمدينة #جنين pic.twitter.com/i9r245RseX
— Newpress | نيو برس (@NewpressPs) December 11, 2022
Tensions have been high in the West Bank over the past year, with the IDF conducting an ongoing major anti-terror offensive mostly focused on the northern West Bank to deal with a series of Palestinian attacks.
Many deadly clashes have occurred in the Jenin and Nablus area, where Israel’s forces have concentrated most arrest operations.
On Thursday, three Palestinian gunmen were killed during a gun battle with Israeli forces in Jenin. A week earlier, another two Palestinian terror operatives were killed in similar clashes in the West Bank city.
In recent months, Palestinian gunmen have also repeatedly targeted military posts, troops operating along the West Bank security barrier, Israeli settlements and civilians on the roads.
The IDF has recorded around 300 shooting attacks and attempts against Israeli civilians and soldiers in the West Bank this year, compared to just 91 last year.