On Saturday evening, an Israeli drone strike targeted and killed two senior Hamas operatives in the West Bank city of Jenin. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and the Shin Bet security agency identified the deceased as Ahmed Abu Ara and Raafat Dawasi, who were both reportedly involved in a deadly shooting in the Jordan Valley last week.
The strike was part of a joint IDF and Shin Bet operation, following intelligence that the two militants were planning further attacks. According to Israeli authorities, Abu Ara had been previously involved in multiple terror operations and was responsible for manufacturing explosives for Hamas, while Dawasi held a senior position within a Hamas network in Jenin.
The two were implicated in the killing of 23-year-old Israeli, Yonatan Deutsch, in a shooting attack on August 11. Hamas confirmed that both men were members of their organization, with Dawasi serving as a commander in Jenin. The group also claimed responsibility for other attacks, including a bombing in Jenin on June 27 and another on July 23.
Footage of the drone strike has been shared on social media, which showed the targeted vehicle engulfed in flames after the attack.
Moments of the strike in Jenin today by IDF 💥 pic.twitter.com/XEMmLgZoSJ
— Simcha Brodsky (@simchabrodsky) August 17, 2024
BREAKING: ISRAEL DOING DRONE STRIKE IN WEST BANK
Two Palestinians were killed in an Israeli airstrike that targeted a vehicle in Jenin, West Bank.
They are targeting Palestinians EVERYWHERE! pic.twitter.com/eIwzFwsx4J
— Sulaiman Ahmed (@ShaykhSulaiman) August 17, 2024
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