A joint IDF-Border Police operation was being carried out to arrest wanted Islamic Jihad terrorists. Taking part were members of the elite Duvdevan undercover unit.
The security forces surrounded two houses that the terrorists were known to be hiding in. Three came out, giving themselves up. Suddenly, the suicide bomber, strapped with explosives, rushed toward the troops and blew himself up.
Following the bombing, another terrorist ran out of the house wearing a bullet-proof vest and opened fire at the troops. He was shot dead, at which point another terrorist gave himself up and the soldiers took control of the house. They found explosives and weapons stored in the house and confiscated them.
Islamic Jihad claims a third man was killed, but the IDF denies the claim.
Islamic Jihad terrorists carried out six suicide bombings in the past year. The IDF has increased operations in Jenin and Tul Karem, seeking to reduce the infrastructure of the terrorist group in the two PA-controlled cities, which has drastically increased since the forced removal of Jewish communities from the region as part of the Disengagement.