Israeli troops kill 3 Palestinians
JERUSALEM — Israeli troops shot and killed three Palestinian militants Wednesday during a raid in the West Bank town of Jenin, and also entered Nablus for the second time this week.
In Jenin, undercover Israeli forces attempted to arrest two members of the militant group Islamic Jihad allegedly involved in planning a foiled suicide bombing in Tel Aviv last week, Israeli officials said. But the troops were shot at and returned fire, killing the pair and a man who was with them, the officials said.
Two of the dead were identified as Ashraf Saadi, 29, sought for suspected involvement in numerous shooting attacks and bombings, and Mohammed Abu Naasah, 34, an Islamic Jihad commander in the Jenin refugee camp. Officials said the third man killed, Alaa Jabali, served as an assistant.
Last week, Israeli forces killed an Islamic Jihad commander from Jenin suspected of helping organize the Tel Aviv bombing plot, foiled a day earlier when police in suburban Bat Yam captured a Palestinian man who allegedly planned to blow himself up. Authorities said he led them to a site where he had hidden explosives.
Islamic Jihad vowed to avenge Wednesday’s deaths. The group claimed responsibility for firing three of five rockets at southern Israel from the Gaza Strip on Wednesday.
Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas accused Israel of seeking to undermine plans for a Palestinian unity government in which Hamas would share power with its main rival, Fatah. The proposed government has yet to be named.
In Nablus, thousands of residents of the crowded casbah were again placed under curfew, a day after Palestinians said Israeli troops had withdrawn. Residents were ordered to stay inside, and schools were closed.
Military officials said the operation was part of a push to root out armed militants and impair their ability to carry out attacks against Israel.
The Israeli raid, launched in full force Sunday, has uncovered storerooms containing explosives, belts used by suicide bombers, a hand-held missile and communications equipment, army officials said. A Palestinian man was killed during the raid Monday.
Israeli military officials say most planned suicide bombings that were thwarted during the last year originated in Nablus.
*
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
