Hamas Lashes Out at PA for Helping Israel Track Down Rabbi Shevach’s Murderer

Hamas has claimed the terrorist who murdered Rabbi Raziel Shevach, Hy”d, as one of its own, and lashed out at the Palestinian Authority for allegedly colluding with Israeli security forces, who killed him on Wednesday night in the Palestinian town of Jenin, The Jerusalem Post reported.

Hamas Spokesman Abdel Latif al-Qanou posted a statement on Thursday claiming that the incident “could not have happened without information sharing and…security coordination,”& and demanding that such “criminal” coordination between Israel and the PA “be ended.”

As usual, Israeli and PA officials made no mention of working together in tracking down the killer of Rabbi Shevach, Hy”d, though they acknowledge in general they do cooperate on security matters.

There was uncertainty about the identity of the terrorist in question, The Times of Israel reported on Thursday.

The Palestinian heath ministry initially said that the man killed by Israeli forces was Ahmad Nassar Jarrar, 22, and Hamas then said he was part of its military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades.

However, a few hours later, the health ministry said it had been mistaken, and that a different man, older and with a similar name, had been killed: Ahmad Ismail Muhammad Jarrar, 31.

Israeli forces confirmed that a Palestinian suspect in the terror attack in Havat Gilad had been tracked down and shot dead, but did not name him. The Shin Bet security service would also not identify him.

Meanwhile, President Reuven Rivlin went to the Rambam Medical Center in Haifa, to visit the soldier who was injured in the Jenin operation. Rivlin spoke with his family, as well as the commanding officer and other members of the Special Anti-Terror Unit.&

The President said, “Immediately after we received the news about the operation and understood that we had casualties, we came to visit the wounded. We have met today a wonderful young man who is now undergoing surgery, because when his life was in imminent danger, his friends in the field and the doctors worked to ensure that despite his severe injuries he is stable, and with G-d’s help will have a full and speedy recovery. We have met today his indescribably wonderful family.”

Medical staff at Rambam had praise for army’s emergency medical response, telling the president that thanks to their quick evacuation and good initial treatment, the soldier was in an operating room and his condition was stable.