Israeli Border Police have released dashcam footage capturing a highly coordinated ambush by Israeli Special Forces that led to the elimination of Wassem Hazem, a key figure in Hamas’s military wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, in the West Bank city of Jenin. Hazem, who held the position of commander for Hamas in Jenin, was directly involved in planning and executing various terrorist activities, including shooting and bombing attacks against Israeli targets in the region. The ambush occurred on Friday morning during a joint counterterrorism operation conducted by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Israel Security Agency (ISA), and Border Police.
Israeli Border Police have released Dashcam Footage showing this morning’s Ambush by Special Forces which resulted in the Elimination of Wassem Hazem, the Head of Hamas’s Al-Qassam Brigades in the City of Jenin. Two Terrorists which fled the Car were Liquidated moments later by… pic.twitter.com/yOBUpubh7Q
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) August 30, 2024
The operation unfolded as Hazem was traveling in a vehicle through the northern West Bank. Israeli forces engaged the vehicle in a firefight, during which Hazem was fatally wounded. The IDF stated that Hazem’s death was the culmination of a broader effort to dismantle Hamas’s operational capabilities in the West Bank, particularly in areas like Jenin, which have been flashpoints for militant activity. Hazem had been a high-priority target due to his involvement in orchestrating and directing attacks against Israeli civilians and military personnel.
Following the initial engagement, two other Hamas operatives who were in the vehicle with Hazem attempted to escape on foot. These men, identified as Maysara Masharqa and Arafat Amer, were also members of Hamas’s military wing and were directly subordinate to Hazem. As they fled the scene, Israeli forces deployed an aircraft to target the escaping men. Both were killed in separate airstrikes within minutes of their attempted escape. According to the IDF, Masharqa and Amer had participated in previous shooting attacks against Israeli communities and were considered armed and dangerous.
The Commander of Hamas’s Al-Qassam Brigades in the West Bank City of Jenin, Wassem Hazem was Eliminated this morning during an Operation by Israeli Special Forces, with Two Terrorists that were in the same Vehicle attempting to Escape before being Killed by Israeli Airstrikes. pic.twitter.com/kAYQ0GNNUt
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) August 30, 2024
In addition to eliminating the three Hamas operatives, Israeli forces recovered a significant cache of weapons, explosives, and large sums of cash from the vehicle.
The operation in Jenin is part of a larger Israeli military campaign that has been intensifying in the West Bank over the past several days. Since Wednesday, hundreds of Israeli troops and police, backed by armored vehicles, helicopters, and drones, have been engaged in large-scale operations in Jenin, Tulkarm, and the Jordan Valley. These operations aim to dismantle terrorist infrastructure, including the removal of roadside bombs planted by militant groups. The IDF reported that in addition to the 20 militants killed so far, including members of Hamas and the Iranian-backed Islamic Jihad, 17 suspects linked to terrorist activities have been apprehended.
International reactions to the recent developments in the West Bank have highlighted growing concern over the potential for further escalation. The British government, through its Foreign Office, expressed deep concern regarding the methods employed by Israel, particularly reports of civilian casualties and the destruction of civilian infrastructure. While acknowledging Israel’s right to defend itself against security threats, the UK emphasized the urgent need for de-escalation and the protection of civilian lives in the conflict zones.
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