The Israeli Defense Forces said on Wednesday that Israeli forces had carried out a major operation in the West Bank this week, killing nine militants.
The IDF said a large contingent of its forces entered the city of Jenin on Wednesday, adding that all nine killed in the operation were militants. IDF spokesman Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani said three were killed in an airstrike on Tulkarem and the other four in al-Falaa.
The last two were killed by Israeli soldiers.
Israeli Foreign Minister Katz said in a social media post that the aim of the operation was to destabilize Iranian “terrorist bases” in the West Bank.
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As the Gaza war continues, Israel has been carrying out near-daily raids in the West Bank.
“We must address this threat just as we address the terrorist infrastructure in the Gaza Strip, including by temporarily evacuating the Palestinian population and taking any other measures necessary,” Katz wrote. “This is a war, by any measure, and we must win it.”
The operation in the West Bank came a day after Israeli forces successfully rescued hostages held by Hamas in Gaza on Tuesday.
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“The IDF and ISA have rescued hostage Kaid Farhan al-Qadi from Gaza and returned him to his family in Israel. This operation was part of a bold and courageous operation by the IDF deep inside the Gaza Strip,” Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said.
Kaid Farhan Al-Qadi, 52, is an Israeli national from Rahat who was rescued this week by the IDF and the Israel Security Agency in a special operation in the Gaza Strip. (Hostage Family Forum)
“This operation joins a series of actions taken by the IDF that bring us closer to achieving our war objectives,” Gallant continued. “I want to reiterate that Israel is committed to seizing every opportunity to return the hostages to Israel.”
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Kaid Farhan al-Qadi, from Rahat, was reportedly rescued by a mixed Israeli force that included members of the 401st Brigade, 162nd Division and Shayettet 13.
Kaid Farhan al-Qadi, a rescued Israeli hostage, talks with an Israel Defense Forces soldier after more than 300 days in captivity. (Israel Defense Forces)
Engineering Member Combat Special Forces Yahalom and Israel Security Agency agents also contributed to the rescue.
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Arkady (52 years old) Gaza Strip The rescue operation has been in the works for nearly a year, and no further details were released about it, citing “considerations of hostage safety, troop safety and national security.”
