Israel Defense Forces said Israeli troops carried out a large-scale operation across the West Bank before dawn on Monday, arresting 11 wanted Palestinian suspects and seizing several firearms.
During a military raid with police officers in the West Bank city of Hebron, forces found four sniper rifles, two hunting rifles, three handguns and other weapon parts in a Palestinian suspect’s home.
Police said he was arrested and taken for questioning.
In the village of Shuweika near Tulkarem, the IDF said Palestinian gunmen opened fire on soldiers as they were arresting a wanted man.
“The forces fired back at the gunmen who fired at them. Suspects were targeted,” the army said. There were no immediate reports of injuries by Palestinian media.
The IDF also reported clashes as forces operated in the towns of Al-Izaria and Abu Dis on the outskirts of Jerusalem. “During the operation, the suspects hurled stones, explosives and Molotov cocktails at the forces, who responded in a riotous manner,” the army said.
Weapons seized by security forces in the West Bank city of Hebron early January 9, 2023. (Israel Defense Forces)
Eleven Palestinians wanted for suspected terrorist activities were taken in for questioning by the Shin Bet security agency.
The army said no Israeli soldiers were hurt in the overnight raid.
Clashes and arrests came amid Israel’s anti-terrorist efforts in 2022, following a series of terror attacks that killed 31 people, mostly in the northern West Bank.
The IDF’s operation has made more than 2,500 arrests in almost nightly raids. It also killed more than 170 Palestinians in 2022, and another four since the beginning of the year, many of them in carrying out attacks or during clashes with security forces, though some were non-involved civilians.
