Palestinian youth said killed during overnight IDF operation in Jenin

A Palestinian youth was killed late Thursday during an Israeli military operation in the West Bank city of Jenin, the Palestinian Authority Health Ministry said early Friday.

The ministry said the 19-year-old suffered a mortal wound in the neck, while three others were wounded by live gunshots to their limbs. A 20-year-old Jenin resident was detained during the arrest raid, Walla reported. The Hebrew-language news site identified the fatality as Jenin refugee camp resident Saleh Al-Buriqi.

There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military.

Also Thursday, Palestinian health officials said a 16-year-old Palestinian died after being wounded in clashes with Israeli troops late last month. Meanwhile, the Palestinians launched a general strike throughout the West Bank and East Jerusalem in response to the death of a Palestinian attacker suspected of killing an Israeli soldier earlier this month. Udai Tamimi was the subject of a more than weeklong manhunt that culminated when he opened fire at a security guard at a West Bank settlement on Wednesday.

Israel on Thursday evening shuttered the Salem crossing in the northern West Bank — predominantly used by Arab Israelis who travel to the Palestinian city of Jenin and the surrounding area — following repeated shooting attacks in the area. Earlier in the day, Palestinian gunmen opened fire at a military post near the crossing, without causing any injuries. The Salem crossing, close to the Arab Israeli town of the same name, has been the target of numerous shooting attacks in recent weeks.

The crossing had been largely shuttered for civilian traffic in recent years, but was reopened in the summer as part of a series of gestures amid US President Joe Biden’s visit to the region.

Security officials are expected to convene on the matter next week and possibly reopen the checkpoint, provided there are no further attacks.

The closure is expected to take an economic toll on the Jenin area.

It comes amid an ongoing IDF anti-terror offensive in the West Bank following a series of Palestinian attacks that killed 19 people earlier this year. Four soldiers have been killed in the West Bank in attacks and during the arrest operations.

The offensive has so far netted more than 2,000 arrests during the near-nightly raids in Palestinian cities, towns, and villages, according to the military. It has also left 123 Palestinians dead, many of them while carrying out attacks or during clashes with security forces.

Overnight Wednesday-Thursday, the IDF said seven wanted Palestinians were detained in a series of raids across the West Bank. The IDF said Palestinian gunmen also opened fire at a military post near Nablus overnight.

“IDF forces responded by returning fire at the source of the shooting and began scanning the area. There were no casualties,” the military said.

An armed Palestinian faction calling itself the Lion’s Den claimed responsibility for the shooting in a statement.

Read more: Armed upstart Lion’s Den challenges IDF bid to crack down on Nablus terror

Israel imposed a closure on Nablus last week, not long after an Israeli soldier was killed in a shooting attack claimed by the group.

Some routes have been left open, through which Palestinians may enter and leave Nablus following “a strict security check.”

Palestinian gunmen have repeatedly targeted military posts, troops operating along the West Bank security barrier, Israeli settlements and civilians on the roads in recent months.