Senior Hamas terrorist seized by Israeli security forces in Jenin raid

Israeli security forces arrested one of the leading Hamas terrorists in command of the terror group’s military infrastructure in the West Bank town of Jenin on Tuesday, according to an official statement.

In a joint operation of forces by the IDF, the Shin Bet, and the Border Police, including an undercover counter-terrorism unit, the arch-terrorist Omar Fayed was arrested in the town of Jenin in northern Samaria.

Fayed was recently involved in several shooting attacks against Israeli forces and was reportedly planning to carry out more such attacks. Upon his arrest, he was transferred for further questioning,

During the operation, Israeli forces identified a gunman in the area and opened fire at him. Two police officers were lightly injured by shrapnel and were evacuated to a hospital for medical treatment.

Earlier on Tuesday, IDF soldiers thwarted an attempted ramming attack near the Gush Etzion Junction, about 12 kilometers (7 miles) south of Jerusalem.

ניסיון פיגוע בגוש עציון: רכב פלסטיני ניסה לדרוס ישראלים שעמדו בצומת גוש עציון - אין נפגעים. הרכב המשיך בבריחה צפונה ונעצר לאחר מרדף של כוחות הביטחון שכלל ירי, כשברכבו נמצא סכין@hod_barel pic.twitter.com/DX1nUdpKrK

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A Palestinian man attempted to drive his car into several people waiting at a bus stop. After he missed them, the driver then tried to flee the scene.

Israeli soldiers later caught up with him near the settlement of Elazar. They shot the man, injuring him, and arrested him before taking him to a hospital, the IDF reported. Soldiers later found a knife in the car.

Tuesday’s rare daytime raid follows Monday’s statement that Israeli security forces arrested 17 terror suspects throughout Judea and Samaria in overnight raids.

In the village of Tell in Samaria, IDF troops arrested seven wanted persons and confiscated military equipment found during searches of their homes.

Overnight from Sunday to Monday, IDF soldiers also thwarted an attempted stabbing attack near the village of Hussan and eliminated the would-be terrorist.

Since the start of the war against Hamas terrorists, which began on Oct. 7, the IDF has increased its forces in the West Bank to counteract Hamas' efforts to set the area ablaze with incitement and terror attacks.

So far, over 3,080 wanted persons have been arrested throughout Judea and Samaria, including 1,350 known associates of the terrorist organization Hamas.