Israeli Forces Neutralize Terrorists in Raid to Capture Hamas Suspects in Shooting

IDF forces carried out a raid overnight Monday to capture the Hamas operatives in the shooting Jan. 28 near Yericho.

The Palestinian Health Ministry said three people had been wounded, one critically but it gave no details on any dead.

The raid came during a period of heightened tensions that have drawn fears of a further escalation in violence and prompted calls for calm on both sides from the United States and international bodies including the United Nations.

Israeli forces have been put on high alert after a Palestinian terrorist killed seven people near a shul in Yerushalayim last week.

The IDF said Monday’s raid in the Aqabat Jabr camp was aimed at capturing a group of Hamas terrorists, who it said were barricaded in a house in the camp and were planning further operations following the attempted restaurant attack.

On Jan. 28, it said two armed individuals appeared in a restaurant in the Vered Yericho community, where around 30 people were present, but fled before carrying out an attack after a weapon malfunctioned. Over the past week, it said security forces had conducted a number of operations to try to find and arrest the suspects.