One Palestinian was killed and several were wounded during a firefight in Shechem early Wednesday between Palestinian gunmen and Israeli security personnel guarding a delegation to Kever Yosef that included several Israeli lawmakers, according to Israeli and Palestinian sources.
“IDF and Israel Border Police forces secured the entrance of worshippers to Joseph’s Tomb in the city of Nablus. During the activity, shots were fired and heard in the area. Additionally, a suspect placed an explosive device in the area. The soldiers responded with fire. A hit was identified,” the IDF said in a statement. An IDF drone was downed during the incident, but posed no security risk, the statement added.
According to the Palestinian Authority Health Ministry, Mahdi Hashash, 15, was killed by shrapnel, but according to a Fatah statement he was killed by Israeli gunfire. The Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades terror group, which is affiliated with Palestinian Authority chief Mahmoud Abbas’s ruling Fatah faction, claimed Hashash as a member.
The IDF did not confirm the death but said that the explosive device had indeed detonated.
The official Palestinian WAFA News Agency cited the head of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society as saying that three people were in hospital after being hit with rubber bullets, and that 57 had inhaled tear gas.
The Israeli delegation included members of Knesset Idit Silman, Amichai Chikli, Boaz Bismuth and Nissim Vatouri (Likud); Yoni Mashriki (Shas); Almog Cohen and Limor Son Har-Melech (Otzma Yehudit); and Ohad Tal (Religious Zionism).
The IDF, Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) and Border Police conducted counter-terror activities in several locations in Judea and Samaria overnight Tuesday, arresting 11 suspects in all and seizing several illegal weapons.
Two of the terror suspects were apprehended in Nabi Saleh, 12.5 miles northwest of Ramallah, amid a riot instigated by local residents who hurled rocks and stone blocks at the security personnel, who in turn opened fire in accordance with standard operating procedures, the IDF said in a statement.
No Israeli casualties were reported. JNS
