Two Yamam fighters wounded in overnight Jenin shootout
Gunfire exchange between special IDF units and terrorists in Jenin also leaves at least one terrorist dead; Israeli forces arrest other terrorists responsible for death of Rabbi Raziel Shevah; number of Palestinians said wounded.
Two fighters from the Border Police's counterterrorism unit Yamam were wounded overnight Wednesday during a raid in Jenin to apprehend the terror cell behind the fatal drive-by shooting of Rabbi Raziel Shevah.
The two wounded troops were taken to the hospital for medical treatment. One was seriously wounded, and his condition has since become stable, while the other was lightly hurt.
One of the terrorists, Ahmed Jarrar, was killed in the fighting that broke out when Israeli troops were searching for Shevah's killers.
Israeli forces continued operating in the Palestinian city throughout the night, where they encountered violent rioting, with hundreds of Palestinians hurling stones at the troops.
Palestinians also fired at the soldiers, and threw explosives, rocks and cement blocks at them.
In response, IDF and Border Police forces fired tear gas, rubber bullets and live fire, with the Palestinians reporting three wounded in the clashes.
During the raid, Israeli security forces demolished Jarrar's home as well as an adjacent home that belonged to his uncle. A third house was reportedly demolished, while a fourth was damaged, both belonging to the extended Jarrar family.
Witnesses said it was possible another gunman was buried under the rubble
Early in the raid, which lasted 12 hours, Palestinian sources reported that dozens of IDF vehicles entered the city and confiscated security cameras at gas stations.
IDF forces left Jenin on Thursday afternoon after over half a day of operations there, while the search continues elsewhere for members of the terror cell. The Shin Bet is also continuing its intelligence gathering effort.
While the Israeli forces were operating inside Jenin, they came under attack by Palestinian rioters throwing stones and Molotov cocktails. Some of the firebombs hit armored military vehicles, but no one was hurt.
The operation was made possible thanks to significant and wide-scale intelligence activity by the Shin Bet and IDF. At first, security forces thought the perpetrators of the attack had fled to Nablus, which is near Havat Gilad, where the attack took place.
The search efforts were refocused to Jenin after a car identified as the one used in the attack was reported to be seen in Jenin.
"The cell in Jenin is not the first and will not be the last," Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri said in a statement.
"The criminal role of (Palestinian) security coordination (with Israel) will not succeed in preventing the resistance from confronting Trump's decision and protecting Jerusalem."
'We'll get terrorists anywhere, they have nowhere to hide'
The prime minister also sent get well wishes to the wounded troops.
"Terrosits will have nowhere to hide. We'll get to the terrorists anywhere," Lieberman added.
Border Police Commander Yaakov (Kobi) Shabtai visited the wounded fighters in the hospital and praised the firm and determined stance of Yamam forces against terrorism.
"The Israel Police's special forces units, including the Yamam, along with the different security forces, will continue pursuing anyone who hurts the security of the citizens of Israel at any time and at any place," Shabtai said.
Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan also visited the wounded Yamam fighter at the hospital. "When we have fighters like those in the Yamam and the Shin Bet, we know that no force can break us," he said.
The minister said the raid was meant to send a message to "all of the despicable murderers, the terror organizations, those who send them (to carry out the attacks) and anyone who cooperates with them.
"The message is clear. We will catch them in any hole they hide in. I saw on Fatah's website that they (the terrorists) are being called lions, but they’re not lions, they are rats who hide,” Erdan added. "The Yamam fighters will get to them and settle the score with them, as they did last night."
“We are grateful to them and to all security forces who take on their part with courage and heroism. We are praying for the wounded soldiers and we send them our love.”
Shevah was killed last Tuesday evening after being shot in the neck when at least one terrorist opened fire on his car from a moving vehicle near Havat Gilad in the West Bank.
Raziel worked as a mohel (who performs the circumcision of babies) and volunteered in Magen David Adom (MDA). He is survived by his wife, Yael, and their six children: Renana, 10, Naomi, 8, Miriam, 6, Malka, 5, Ovadia, 3, and Benayahu, only 10 months old.
Yael Shevah praised Israeli security forces Thursday morning for killing and capturing the terrorists involved in her husband’s murder.
“I am grateful to the security forces for their determined action in capturing the terrorists and I send my wishes for a speedy recovery to those wounded and who acted heroically and with determination,” she said.
“We are consoled not by revenge but by building in the Land of Israel,” she added. “I appeal to the prime minister: Break your silence and adopt the recommendation by the defense minister to approve Havat Gilad and bring it for governmental approval on Sunday."
Yoav Zitun, Elior Levy, Elisha Ben Kimon, Itamar Eichner, Ahiya Raved, Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
