Heavy fighting between Israeli soldiers and gunmen in Jenin, 3 Palestinians killed

IDF and undercover Israel Border Police forces entered Jenin early Monday morning to arrest two wanted terrorists. 

During the operation, there was an exchange of fire between the IDF and armed Palestinians who exploded an IED and shot at the troops. 

مصادر محلية: جانب من الاشتـــــــــــــــــباكات التي اندلعت مع قوات الاحتلال في جنين وأسفرت عن إصابة عدد من الجنود. pic.twitter.com/B5aNZP9VYz

— شبكة قدس الإخبارية (@qudsn) June 19, 2023

According to the Palestinian Wafa news site, there were 29 wounded Palestinians – 6 in serious condition – and 3 killed.

The IDF reported that several of its soldiers were wounded when an IED exploded next to their vehicle while the soldiers exited Jenin. The injured soldiers were airlifted by helicopter to a hospital for treatment. 

IDF helicopters fired at Palestinian gunmen to assist in the extraction of the wounded soldiers. 

طيران الاحتلال يشن غارات جوية على #جنين.#فلسطين pic.twitter.com/wCfjugObyz

— شبكة قدس الإخبارية (@qudsn) June 19, 2023

According to the Palestinian news site al-Quds, the IDF arrested civilian suspects, although it also admitted that one of those arrested was Hamas activist Assem Abu Al-Hija. 

Following the operation, Palestinian terror groups released statements condemning the IDF and praising the Palestinian gunmen. 

“We have many more surprises. We warn Israel against their continued aggression against Palestinian civilians,” according to a statement from the Al-Quds Brigade, the armed wing of Islamic Jihad.

The organization's spokesperson, Daoud Shihab, stressed that "what is happening in Jenin and the occupied West Bank is the true expression of the Palestinian resistance. The occupation forces continued their incursions into the Jenin refugee camp, resulting in the death of a young Palestinian.”

“I salute the heroes defending Jenin and emphasizing our heroism,” he added in reference to 15-year-old Ahmed Yousef Saqr, who was killed during armed fighting. At this time, it is not known if Saqr was a participant in the fighting. 

In recent years, Palestinian terror groups have recruited an increasing number of youth fighters in violation of the Geneva Conventions, the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. 

As of 10:15 AM Israeli time, there were still reports of gunfire in Jenin.