An Israeli border policeman was wounded during a counterterrorism raid in the city of Qalqilya in Samaria on Thursday when a Palestinian threw an explosive device at him, the Israel Defense Forces said.
The police officer was evacuated to the hospital and his family was notified, the IDF added. The statement did not specify the severity of his condition.
As IDF troops battle Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Judea and Samaria are experiencing a parallel rise in terror incidents, with security officials warning earlier this week that the area is “on the verge of an explosion.”
Security forces, including IDF soldiers, Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) personnel and Israel Police officers, continued to operate in the Tulkarem camp on Thursday, some nine miles north of Qalqilya.
Troops killed at least eight terrorist operatives and arrested more than 15 wanted terrorism suspects, the army said. The soldiers also searched hundreds of buildings, destroying weapon depots, an explosive manufacturing factory and an observation post.
As part of the raid in Tulkarem, which was still ongoing at press time, security personnel also uncovered numerous roadside bombs hidden throughout the city’s refugee camp, the IDF said.
On Wednesday, the first day of the operation in Tulkarem, an IDF soldier was shot and seriously wounded by Palestinian gunfire, the military said.
In response, troops ordered a drone strike on the gunmen, killing several terrorists. The Palestinian Authority Health Ministry claimed four men were killed in the retaliatory attack.
Overnight Wednesday, IDF soldiers arrested 21 terrorism suspects throughout Judea and Samaria, including in the village of Harmala and the Al-Arroub camp, both located near Bethlehem in Judea.
Since the beginning of the war with Hamas on Oct. 7, Israeli forces have detained more than 2,700 wanted Palestinians in Judea and Samaria, at least 1,300 of whom are affiliated with the terrorist group.
