Wassem Hazem, head of the Hamas terror organization in the West Bank area of Jenin, was killed on Friday in a joint IDF, ISA, and Israel Border Police counterterrorism operation in the northern Samaria area, Israel’s military announced shortly afterward.
Hazem was killed in his vehicle after an exchange of fire during the joint operation. His role in the terror group involved carrying out and directing shooting and bombing attacks.
Hazem continuously advanced terrorist activities in the Judea and Samaria area, the IDF added.
Following the elimination of Hazem, two additional terrorists, Maysara Masharqa and Arafat Amer, who were in the vehicle with him, attempted to flee the scene. However, shortly afterward, they were also killed by an IDF aircraft.
חיסול ראש התארגנות הטרור של חמאס בג’נין: בתקיפה בזבאבדה חוסלו שני מחבלים נוספים שהיו עימו ברכב | תיעוד התקיפה האווירית@carmeldangor pic.twitter.com/3i8tPuTsxS
— כאן חדשות (@kann_news) August 30, 2024
Masharqa and Amer operated under the command of Hazem and took part in shooting attacks against Israeli communities, the IDF said.
What was found in Hazem’s vehicle?
Following the triple assassination, the IDF searched the vehicle in which the terrorists were located and found M16 rifles, handguns, cartridges, explosives, gas grenades, and thousands of shekels worth of terrorist funds.
There were no reports of any IDF soldiers who were wounded during the operation.
Earlier on Friday morning, the IDF said they had struck a terror cell in Jenin during a clash with Israeli security forces.
IDF operations in the West Bank
The IDF later issued a statement noting that the military had targeted three terror hubs belonging to Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad in the West Bank.
The hubs had planned for terrorist attacks in the West Bank and Israel against both civilians and soldiers.
Since beginning the operation, the IDF said it eliminated 20 terrorists in fire exchanges and airstrikes – in addition to the arrest of 17 suspects believed to have links to the terrorist organizations organizing in the region.
The IDF has also destroyed explosive devices and confiscated large quantities of weapons.
Based on the success of the operations, the IDF said it had concluded operations in northern Samaria and the area of Far’a in the Jordan Valley Brigade.
The Palestinian Health Ministry claimed that 19 people have been killed since the IDF began operations in the West Bank.
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