On Friday morning, Israeli forces conducted a counterterrorism operation in the northern West Bank city of Jenin, resulting in the deaths of seven Palestinian gunmen, including members of a cell responsible for a recent deadly roadside bombing. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Israel Security Authority (ISA) reported that the operation targeted those involved in the attack that killed Captain Alon Sacgiu and wounded 16 other soldiers on June 27.
The IDF, supported by intelligence from the ISA, identified and targeted a building in Jenin where the suspects were holed up. The suspects included Hammam Hashash, 23, and his brother Harith Hashash, 19, both implicated in the June 27 roadside bomb attack. The operation employed a “pressure cooker” tactic, involving increasing fire on the building to force the suspects to surrender. The two brothers were killed during the ensuing firefight.
During the operation, IDF forces also engaged in clashes with other gunmen in the area. A drone strike targeted a group of four armed militants, resulting in their deaths. A total of seven Palestinian gunmen were killed in the operation, as confirmed by the Palestinian Health Ministry and the IDF.
The operation in Jenin followed recent violence and rising tensions in the West Bank. It came a day after an Israeli anti-settlement monitoring group reported plans to construct nearly 5,300 new homes in West Bank settlements. This construction plan is part of the Israeli government’s strategy to solidify control over the West Bank.
Despite the ongoing violence, efforts to revive ceasefire talks have resumed. Israeli negotiators are set to arrive in Doha, Qatar, to engage in discussions mediated by the U.S., Qatar, and Egypt. The goal is to bridge gaps that have hindered a ceasefire agreement.
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