IDF officials reported Wednesday that a group of Al-Aksa Martyrs Brigades terrorists targeted in an operation earlier in the day had been under Palestinian Authority protection. The five terrorists were officially under PA arrest, officials explained, but in reality were free to wander the city of Shechem and plan attacks. They were living in an apartment belonging to PA security forces and were plotting a terror attack in revenge for the recent death of senior Fatah terrorist Ahmed Sankara.
The General Security Services (Shabak), IDF, and Border Police worked together to carry out the operation on Wednesday. Senior Tanzim terrorist Ibrahim Masyami was killed while trying to flee from soldiers, and three of the other terrorists were wounded. The wounded terrorists were taken to Israeli hospitals, while the fifth terrorist was arrested and taken in for questioning.