Israeli soldiers stationed in the occupied West Bank eliminated two Palestinian gunmen following an attempted attack from a vehicle, according to military reports. The incident occurred over the weekend and marks the latest in a series of escalating tensions in the region.
The confrontation took place near the Jenin area at the Salem checkpoint, a frequent site of violence and attempted attacks. The Israeli military stated that the gunmen opened fire on the soldiers, who responded with lethal force. During the engagement, two automatic rifles were confiscated, and no casualties were reported among the Israeli forces.
In response to the attack, the Islamic Jihad militant group confirmed that the individuals involved were members from Jenin and acknowledged their deaths. Additional reports from Wafa, the official Palestinian news agency, indicated that two other attackers were also wounded during the incident.
This violent episode is part of a broader uptick in conflict across the West Bank, which has intensified since the start of a war in Gaza following a massive attack on October 7. Since that date, the West Bank has witnessed a spiral of violence, with at least 468 Palestinians killed in various confrontations, military operations, or during their attacks, as stated by the Health Ministry in the West Bank.
The two gunmen killed at the checkpoint were identified by the Palestinian Authority health ministry as Mustafa Abed, aged 21, and Ahmed Shawahna, aged 20. The circumstances surrounding the wounding of two additional Palestinians in the Jenin area remain unclear.
According to the Israel Defense Forces, the Border Defense Corps’ 636th Combat Intelligence Collection Unit had been prepared for potential threats following a series of similar incidents at the checkpoint. The soldiers had set up an ambush, which enabled them to respond swiftly when the gunmen initiated their assault.
The Salem Crossing, historically a conduit for Arab Israelis conducting business or pursuing leisure activities in Jenin and surrounding areas, has been largely closed to civilian traffic in recent years due to security concerns. An image released by the IDF showed that one of the seized assault rifles bore the logo of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror group, indicating the affiliation of the gunmen.
Since the onset of the Gaza war, Israeli troops have arrested approximately 3,850 wanted Palestinians across the West Bank, many of whom are purportedly affiliated with Hamas. The IDF claims that the majority of those killed during this period were gunmen neutralized during raids or actively committing attacks.
Relevant articles:
– Israeli soldiers kill two Palestinian gunmen in West Bank, military says, reuters.com, 04/28/2024
– Israeli soldiers kill two Palestinian gunmen at West Bank checkpoint, Yahoo! Voices, Sat, 27 Apr 2024 08:14:02 GMT
– IDF: 2 Palestinian gunmen open fire at West Bank checkpoint, are shot dead by troops, The Times of Israel, Sat, 27 Apr 2024 10:01:00 GMT
– Two Israeli hostages seen in latest video issued by Hamas, WNWN-FM, Sat, 27 Apr 2024 18:05:32 GMT
– Netherlands will consider resuming support to Palestinian UNRWA agency, KFGO, Fri, 26 Apr 2024 21:35:07 GMT