An Israeli soldier was killed, and 16 others were injured during a military raid in the Jenin refugee camp in the northern West Bank. The incident occurred early Thursday as Israeli forces conducted an operation targeting Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) operatives.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported that the raid began overnight, with soldiers raiding a pharmacy near Jenin’s urban refugee camp and making arrests. Residents noted that armored bulldozers used in the operation caused damage to nearby infrastructure.
The incident turned deadly when a roadside bomb exploded near an armored vehicle, injuring several soldiers as they were leaving Jenin. As additional troops arrived to assist, a second bomb detonated, killing Cpt. Alon Sacgiu, 22, a sniper team commander in the Kfir Brigade’s Haruv reconnaissance unit, and injuring more soldiers. The PIJ claimed responsibility for the bombings.
According to the IDF, a total of 16 soldiers were wounded in the explosions. One soldier was seriously injured, five were moderately hurt, and the rest sustained light injuries. The initial bomb slightly harmed soldiers inside an armored personnel carrier (APC), but the vehicle largely protected them from severe injuries. However, when the second bomb exploded, the soldiers outside the vehicle, including the slain commander, suffered more severe injuries.
The Palestinian Prisoners’ Society reported that at least 28 Palestinians were arrested across the West Bank on Thursday, including nine from the Jenin governorate. This brings the total number of arrests since October to 9,430.
Jenin has been a focal point for Israeli military operations, with frequent raids targeting Hamas and PIJ operatives.Â
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