Three arrested during undercover arrest operation at West Bank business, touching off skirmishes that include live fire used by both sides, explosives thrown at troops

Israeli troops operate in the West Bank, in the early morning of December 11, 2022. (Israel Defense Forces)
Israeli troops operate in the West Bank, in the early morning of December 11, 2022. (Israel Defense Forces)

 

A teenage Palestinian girl was killed as gunmen clashed with troops in Jenin during an arrest raid in the northern West Bank city late Sunday, Palestinian authorities said.

Jana Majdi Assam Zakarna, 16, was pronounced dead at a Jenin hospital after being shot in the head by Israeli soldiers, according to Palestinian Health Ministry.

An Israeli military spokesperson said the army was looking into the reports on Zakarna’s death.

Three other Palestinians were reported wounded in the clashes, which included live fire and explosives, as Israeli troops and Border Police officers, including some operating undercover, raided a Jenin business late Sunday.

A spokesperson for Israel’s Border Police unit confirmed that troops opened fire and said three terror suspects were arrested during the late night operation.

“Following the arrests, violent riots developed, including live fire and explosives from various ranges directed at [Israeli] forces,” a Border Police spokesperson said said in a statement. “The undercover officers, Border Police troops and Israel Defense Forces soldiers returned fire toward the terrorists.”

Footage shared on social media showed troops emerging from a van and entering a storefront, before emerging while escorting Palestinians who have their hands bound.

Heavy gunfire can be heard in the clips, and explosions could be heard in other videos from the city, including one that appears to show a bomb going off next to a military jeep.

No Israeli troops were injured, police said.

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.

An M16 rifle seized by Israeli forces during a raid in Jenin on December 11, 2022. (Police Spokesperson)
An M16 rifle seized by Israeli forces during a raid in Jenin on December 11, 2022. (Police Spokesperson)

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.

As reported by The Times of Israel