Israeli forces clash with Islamic Jihad terrorists in Samaria

Israeli forces engaged Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorists on Sunday night in the Nur Shams camp east of Tulkarem in northern Samaria.

The clashes erupted after more than 60 IDF vehicles entered Tulkarem and Nur Shams, with army bulldozers destroying streets and infrastructure in the camp to clear possible roadside bombs.

Ten explosive devices were neutralized, according to the IDF, which said in a statement that the overnight counterterrorism operation was carried out to “neutralize explosive devices and apprehend wanted suspects.”

The IDF said that a wanted terrorism suspect was arrested and that other suspects were questioned.

Palestinian Islamic Jihad’s Tulkarem Battalion published a video appearing to show an IED detonating next to an IDF bulldozer.

The IDF has been deploying bulldozers to clear IEDs since a roadside bomb exploded next to an armored vehicle during a counterterrorism operation in Jenin in June, wounding several soldiers.

Palestinian media reported 13 wounded during Sunday night’s confrontation. No Israeli casualties were reported.

The IDF confirmed that exchanges of fire took place and rioters there explosive devices at the personnel, with hits detected on the terrorists.

In raids around Judea and Samaria on Sunday, Israeli security forces arrested a total of 17 Palestinian terrorism suspects and seized weapons.

Soldiers arrested 15 wanted persons in the Hebron-area villages of Beit Kahil and Dura, al-Mughayyir near Ramallah, Qatanna near Jerusalem, Beit Ummar in the Bethlehem area, the Aqabat Jaber refugee camp near Jericho, and other villages.

As forces were leaving Qatanna, Palestinians threw stones at the soldiers, who responded with riot-dispersal measures.

Palestinians fired on soldiers in Aqabat. Soldiers returned fire.

On Saturday, police arrested three residents of Bethlehem (ages 17, 18 and 19) in connection with last Thursday night’s terrorist attack in Jerusalem’s Gilo neighborhood. Police said the arrests came after the completion of a joint investigation carried out by the Jerusalem District Attorney’s Office and the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet).

One person was wounded in the attack.

Large police forces were called to the scene after the stabbing, and a search was launched for the assailants. Two knives were found at the scene.