In first success of Jenin operation, IDF kills two terrorists who killed 3 Israelis earlier this month

Israeli forces killed the two terrorists responsible for the death of three Israelis in a terror attack near Kedumim two weeks ago, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced Thursday. This marks the first success of the major counterterror operation the IDF launched in Jenin earlier this week.

The two terrorists who were eliminated were Qutayba and Muhammad al-Shalbi, who were residents of the town of Qabatiya and were affiliated with the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) terror group.

On Jan. 6, they had opened fire on a car and a bus driving through the village al-Funduq, killing off-duty police officer Elad Yaakov Winkelstein (35), and two women from the nearby town of Kedumim, Rachel Cohen (73) and Aliza Raiz (70).

במהלך הלילה, במבצע של כוחות הביטחון לסיכול טרור במרחב ג'נין שבחטיבת מנשה בהכוונה מודיעינית של שב״כ, הכוחות פתחו בנוהל "סיר לחץ" על מבנה בכפר בורקין ולאחר חילופי אש עם שני מחבלים שהתבצרו בתוכו, הכוחות חיסלו את המחבלים>> pic.twitter.com/7mNfUVcWuT

— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) January 23, 2025

Two M-4/M-16 rifles were later found on the bodies of the terrorists. They were killed with the IDF’s “pressure cooker” method, after being surrounded in a building on the outskirts of Jenin.

As part of this tactic, Israeli troops steadily escalate their fire, from guns to small missiles and airstrikes, until the terrorists either surrender or are killed.

During the four-hour fire exchange, a soldier of the elite Duvdevan Unit was wounded. Several other terrorists who assisted in the Kedumim attack were arrested during the operation.

The third terrorist involved in the attack could be among the arrested suspects, and the Shin Bet is investigating the matter.

Overall, 13 terrorists have been killed during the Jenin operation so far. Contrary to previous counterterror activities in the city, which only sought to clamp down on terror, Ynet News reported this operation has the goal of completely dismantling the terror battalion in the city.

Despite the recent counterterror offensive of the Palestinian Authorities’ forces in the area, the IDF reportedly recognized signs of the battalion adapting and developing its combat capabilities, contributing to Israel’s decision to start the offensive at this time.

Kan News cited Palestinian reports indicating that PA forces are cooperating with the IDF’s operation, and have arrested wanted suspects who tried to flee the area.

A senior IDF official in Judea and Samaria told the Jerusalem Post as part of the new strategy aiming to eradicate terror, the IDF adapted its rules of engagement to allow greater engineering and air power to be used.

Some 2,000 Palestinian civilians voluntarily chose to leave the area of the city’s refugee camp, which are hotbeds of terrorism in most towns across Judea and Samaria.

However, the official said some civilians remain and the rules of engagement still restrict the IDF from using its full power to prevent fire on civilians.

The IDF Central Command has not fully cut off access to the camp, instead creating drains and checkpoints around the area, allowing residents to leave and enter while steering the population away from the main fighting areas.