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IDF: Palestinian teen killed during Jenin firefight likely shot by Border Police officer

Jana Zakarneh was standing next to an armed terrorist on a rooftop and was misidentified as a threat, according to the Israeli military’s initial findings.

Israeli forces conduct a counterterror operation near Jenin, Dec. 1, 2022. Credit: IDF Spokesperson's Unit.
Israeli forces conduct a counterterror operation near Jenin, Dec. 1, 2022. Credit: IDF Spokesperson’s Unit.

A Palestinian teenager killed during a firefight in Jenin on Sunday was likely shot by a Border Police officer, according to the initial findings of an Israeli military investigation.

Jana Zakarneh, whose age has been variously reported as 15 or 16, was standing next to a Palestinian gunman on a rooftop, Channel 22 reported on Monday.

During the clash, Israeli forces identified two suspicious figures, one of whom was armed, on a nearby roof, according to the Israel Defense Forces. A Border Police officer fired nine rounds at the pair, striking Zakarneh.

The report noted that Palestinian gunmen often fire from rooftops during Israeli security operations, and also film Israeli movements from rooftops, later posting the videos to social media networks.

The IDF Spokesperson’s unit said in a statement that the Israeli military regrets all harm to non-combatants, “including those who are in a combat environment during exchanges of fire, in close proximity to armed terrorists. Security forces will continue to work to thwart terrorism anywhere that is needed, while attempting to prevent harm to non-combatants.”

Israeli forces arrested the three wanted suspects during Sunday’s operation, and transferred them to the Israel Security Agency for questioning.

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