5 Palestinians killed in clashes; Bennett backs IDF soldiers

• Published date: 26 September 2021
• Author: ANNA AHRONHEIM
• Publication title: Jerusalem Post, The: Web Edition Articles (Israel)

The clashes are still ongoing.

The wave of arrests in five different locations in the West Bank targeted a Hamas cell that Israeli security forces had been tracking for several days.

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Bennett issued a statement backing the IDF's overnight operation, saying that "security forces acted tonight in Judea and Samaria against Hamas terrorists who were about to carry out imminent terrorist attacks."

"The soldiers and commanders in the field acted as expected of them," Bennett said adding that "we fully support them."

According to Army Radio, intelligence sources said that the Hamas cell that was targeted during the arrests planned to carry out an attack inside Israel. The sources added that they suspect that there are additional suspects who belong to the same cell who have not yet been arrested.

IDF Spokesperson Brig.-Gen. Ran Kohav told reporters on Sunday morning that Duvdevan special unit troops carried out arrests that took place in the town of Burqin, west of Jenin, Qabatiya, and Beit 'Anan north of Jerusalem.

The arrest operation began before midnight on Saturday night with troops from Duvdevan arrested one suspect along with his weapon in Jenin with no resistance. Shortly after midnight, Duvdevan troops carried out another raid in the village of Kfar Dan north of the flashpoint city and arrested another suspect without any violence.

Another raid, in the village of Burqin near Jenin took place in the predawn hours of Sunday targeting another armed suspect. Gunfire broke out after IDF troops surrounded the home where the suspect was hiding and demanded that he exit. The suspect was injured by IDF troops following a gunfight that broke out, he was arrested and taken into custody along with his weapon.

A second gunfight broke out in the village of Burqin between suspects and Duvdevan troops as well as YAMAM troops from the Israel Police. Two suspects, identified by Palestinian media as 22-year-old Osama Sobah and Ahmad Zahran were killed.

Three other armed Palestinians were killed in the clashes in Beit 'Anan near the town of Bidu with YAMAM troops. According to Palestinian media, IDF troops surrounded a building in the area of Ain Ajab near Beit 'Anan after which they were seen carrying away a body.

Palestinian media also reported clashes in the village of Beit Fajjar, south of Bethlehem, and in Hebron.

According to Kohav...