3 Israeli officers killed in shooting operation in south West Bank

Department of Research, Security and Military Studies 01-09-2024

Reports indicate that the Palestinians who carried out the operation safely withdrew from the shooting scene near the Tarqumiyah military checkpoint.

Three Israeli police officers were killed in a shooting operation in the southern West Bank governorate of al-Khalil on Sunday morning, Field media’s correspondent reported.  

According to the Israeli newspaper Maariv, two Israeli police officers were critically injured and one was seriously wounded in a drive-by shooting on Route 35 east of the Tarqumiyah military checkpoint. Israeli emergency services rushed to the scene in an area to the northwest of the city of al-Khalil. Israeli emergency services later announced the death of the three injured soldiers.

Later, Israeli media reported a high security alert at the site of the shooting, as military reinforcements arrived at the scene.

It is worth noting, as per the Israeli Army Radio, that 11 bullets were fired at the targeted vehicle, and the shooting took place one kilometer from the Tarqumiya military checkpoint.

The operation was conducted amid an onhoing Israeli aggression on the northern governorates of the West Bank in Jenin, Tulkarm, and Tubas. This aggression coincides with continued incursions into several cities and towns across the West Bank. 

Maariv reported that the Palestinians who carried out the operation safely withdrew from the site. Israeli authorities launched a large-scale search operation in an attempt to locate them, with Israeli occupation forces storming the town of Idhna amid heightened security.

Meanwhile, commenting on the operation, Israeli media highlighted that “three attacks were carried out in the West Bank within 3 days under the nose of the Israeli army and the Shin Bet.”