Two Palestinians, Including PIJ Commander, Killed In Israeli Raid In Jenin

On November 3 afternoon, two Palestinians were killed during an Israeli military operation in the Jenin refugee camp in the occupied West Bank.  

The two casualties were 14-year-old teenager Mohamad Khalouf and 28-year-old Farouk Salameh, who was identified as a “commander” of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad. The group mourned Salameh in an official statement, vowing to avenge his death.

During the operation in Jenin, Israeli troops raided a building where Salameh was located. The man was reportedly in a butchery slaughtering a cow for his wedding, set to be held two days later. Salameh fled the scene, and troops chased after him. He later opened fire at the troops who eventually shot and killed him.

Israeli troops seized Salameh’s personal handgun, as well as an M-16 assault rifle and other weapons which were found at the building.

In a joint statement, Israel Defense Forces and Border Police said Salameh was involved in the killing of police commando Sgt. Maj. Noam Raz last May. He also had ties to the Nablus-based Lion’s Den armed groups, which carried out several attacks against Israeli troops and settlers over the last few months.

A few hours before the operation in Jenin, three Israeli police officers were wounded as a result of a stabbing attack in Jerusalem’s Old City. The attacker, who was identified as 20-year-old Palestinian Bader Amer from the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Beit Hanina, was shot dead at the scene.

Violence has been on the rise in the West Bank and Jerusalem for several months now. Israel’s attempts to subdue Palestinians there with brute force has been causing much instability. Still, Tel Aviv will not likely change its tactics any time soon.

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