Three terrorists killed during IDF counterterrorism ops
Israeli security forces continued their counterterrorism operation throughout Judea and Samaria on Wednesday night, part of Operation Wave Breaker, during which three terrorists were killed.
Israeli forces in action. Apr-13 (IDF)
Two terrorists were killed during an IDF operation to arrest a terror suspect in the town of Silwad, near Ramallah. The Palestinian Authority’s (PA) Ministry of Health named Omar Muhammad Alyan, 20, as one of the terrorists killed in the clashes. Another 11 people were injured, according to PA reports.
The Israeli forces arrested Maad Hammad, and two other suspects. The three were planning shootings attacks, the IDF stated.
In Hussan near Bethlehem, the IDF stated that an Arab terrorist was shot and killed while throwing a firebomb at Israeli forces. There were no Israeli casualties.
A riot subsequently ensued with the participation of hundreds of Arab rioters who threw stones at IDF forces, and they respond with crowd dispersing means.
A resident of the adjacent Israeli town of Beitar Illit entered Hussan with his vehicle, apparently seeking cheap shopping, and was attacked by an Arab mob. The man escaped unharmed, but the rioters set fire to his car and destroyed it.
Following the serious incident, Beitar Illit’s Mayor Meir Rubinstein demanded that the residents of his town “stop entering Hussan! It’s a danger to your lives.”
Residents of the Ultra-Orthodox town usually maintain good ties with the Arab resident of Hussan and go there for cheap shopping and services.
The terror factions gathered in the Gaza Strip Wednesday evening and stated they were prepared for an escalation, and Salah al-Aruri, deputy head of Hamas, called on “our people to mobilize and support Silwad and all areas of conflict.” Aruri is considered the commander of Hamas in Judea and Samaria.
On Thursday morning, the PA cities of Ramallah and Bethlehem announced a general strike in protest of the deaths of the three PA residents killed during the IDF’s activities in Judea and Samaria.
“Intensify the confrontations with Israel,” they declared.
Israeli forces have arrested over 70 terror suspects since the beginning of the week.
Israel has experienced four severe terror attacks in recent weeks. On Thursday night, a terrorist from Jenin shot and killed three Israelis in the heart of Tel Aviv. Before that, a terrorist from Yabed shot and killed five people in the city of Bnei Brak. In the second attack, two Islamist terrorists shot and killed two Israelis in the city of Hadera. In Be’er Sheva, a terrorist stabbed and murdered four Israelis. Jerusalem has been the scene of several attacks as well.
The country’s security establishment is bracing for further violence, especially as Ramadan coincides with Passover, and following the first anniversary of Operation Guardian of the Walls in May 2021, which was launched by the IDF following a Hamas rocket attack on Jerusalem that began at the height of the Month of Ramadan.
