The IDF and Shin Bet eliminated five terrorists in the Balata refugee camp in the city of Nablus in the West Bank early Saturday morning.
An aircraft attacked an apartment that was being used as a hideout by terrorists involved in planning terrorist activity against Israeli citizens and military targets in the near term.
IDF and Shin Bet activity in the camp found a laboratory for the production of explosive charges and promptly destroyed it. Also, the IDF, using engineering tools, uncovered explosives planted under and on the sides of the road to harm Israeli forces.
During the operation, terrorists fired at Israeli forces who responded at the scene. There were no Israeli casualties in the incident.
Among the terrorists who were killed was Muhammad Zahad, a resident of the refugee camp. Zahad was involved in a series of attacks in the Nablus area. Among the prominent attacks in which he was involved was a shooting in April 2023 in Jerusalem which resulted in the injury of two Israeli citizens.
He also formed a terror squad made up of young people from the camp which he armed with explosives and weapons for terror operations against the IDF personnel. In the past, he sent terrorists to carry out attacks in the camp against Israeli forces. In addition, Zahad received weapons and terrorist funds to promote attacks against Israeli civilians and soldiers and began to manufacture explosive charges.
The Palestinian Red Crescent earlier said its medics were dealing with five serious injuries from the blast, all of them men ranging from 19 to 25 years in age.
Regional violence spikes
The IDF and Shin Bet also arrested 19 wanted persons throughout the West Bank since Friday, with 11 of them being associated with Hamas. 12 of the arrests took place in Hebron, which included several family members of the terrorists who carried out the shooting attack at the Jerusalem tunnel checkpoint on Thursday.
The West Bank has seen a sharp surge in violence since the deadly attack on southern Israel by Hamas terrorists from Gaza last month.
At least 186 Palestinians, including 51 children, have been killed by Israeli forces in the West Bank since the October 7 Hamas attack, according to UN figures.
An additional eight have been killed by Israeli settlers, while four Israelis have been killed in attacks by Palestinians, according to the figures.
Approximately 1,800 wanted individuals have been arrested throughout the West Bank since the beginning of Operation Swords of Iron, with approximately 1,050 of whom are associated with Hamas.