Israel steps up counter-terrorism operations in West Bank

• Author: ANNA AHRONHEIM
• Published date: 30 September 2021
• Publication title: Jerusalem Post, The: Web Edition Articles (Israel)

Stepped-up Israeli activity is partially the cause of a recent increase in clashes in West Bank cities. Israeli security officials have noticed in recent months how PA security forces have scaled back operations.

Three Palestinians were killed by IDF fire on Thursday morning, one in the West Bank, one in Jerusalem and one next to the perimeter fence in the northern Gaza Strip.

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One town of particular concern for the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) and the IDF is Jenin and its surrounding villages, where the military has been operating recently to break up a Hamas cell.

Early on Thursday morning, a Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorist was shot dead after he opened fire at Israeli troops operating in Burkin near Jenin.

The man was identified as 22-year-old Alaa Nasser Zyoud, an operative in the terrorist movement Palestinian Islamic Jihad's al-Quds Brigades. The group later confirmed he was a member of the organization.

Troops from the Border Police undercover unit and the IDF's Haruv counter-terrorism reconnaissance unit entered the town as part of an ongoing crackdown against a large Hamas cell operating in the area and planning terror attacks.

According to the IDF, troops acted against a number of targets in Burkin, including in the yard where a firefight broke out on Sunday between Duvdevan troops and an armed Palestinian terrorist.

Clashes later erupted during the arrest operation, with Zyoud allegedly opening fire. IDF soldiers and Border Police officers returned fire, hitting him and confiscating his weapon, a Carlo submachine gun.

The Palestinian Health Ministry said that Zyoud had been hit by two bullets in the chest, one in the neck and another in the right thigh. Two other Palestinians were wounded in the clashes.

The forces were in Burkin to arrest suspects and locate weapons belonging to that cell based on intelligence provided by the Shin Bet.

No Israeli troops were injured.

In Jerusalem, 30-year-old Issra Khuzaymah from the West Bank town of Kabatiya near Jenin was shot by Israeli police after she exited the Temple Mount complex near the Chain Gate around 6:30 a.m. and pulled a knife on officers.

Medical forces who arrived at the scene pronounced her dead.

Following the attempted attack, police officers temporarily closed the gates to the Temple Mount.

Also on Thursday morning, a Palestinian who approached...