Netanyahu and senior Israeli security officials praise soldiers wounded in counter-terrorism operation

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and senior security officials praised the Israeli reserve soldiers who were wounded in Monday morning’s counter-terrorism operation in the West Bank city of Jenin.

The wounded soldiers, who were treated at Rambam Hospital in the northern city of Haifa, explained that the incident took place when they came under “heavy fire” from “several locations” in Jenin, which has recently become a major hub for terrorist acts against Israelis.

Preferring to remain anonymous, Sergeant B.G., Sergeant T.K. and a combat medic for the Israel Border Police took part in the difficult operation.

“Together with the [security] forces we managed to arrest the suspects and hit a large number of terrorists. As soon as the force was hit, I and another medic in the force began to treat the fighters and, in a short time, paramedics and other forces arrived. We are determined to recover and return to our friends and to activity soon,” said the wounded combat medic.

Netanyahu emphasized that the operation was one of the Jewish states’ latest efforts in its ongoing campaign to strike the terrorist networks in the region.

"We strike at terrorism with strength and determination. In recent months we have eliminated and arrested a record number of terrorists. This was also the case in the operation in the Jenin area and we will continue to do so with all our strength," vowed the prime minister.

 Israeli Police Commissioner Yaakov Shabtai echoed the words of the prime minister.

“We are in a challenging security reality, the soldiers of the Border Police, the Israel Police, the IDF, the Shin Bet and all the security agencies are sending a clear message: We will put our hands on terrorists and terrorist operatives wherever necessary,” said Shabtai.

Border Police Chief Amir Cohen told the IDF soldiers that they acted "with composure and professionalism," as was expected of them.

"We are determined and insist on continuing to act together with all the security agencies in whatever space is required to thwart the terrorists in their 'backyard,' before they succeed in harming the citizens of the State of Israel,” he added.

While Jenin is formally under the Palestinian Authority’s control, Ramallah’s waning influence has created a power vacuum currently being filled by rival terrorist organizations, such as Hamas in Gaza and the Islamic Jihad.