Israel Eliminates Palestinian Islamic Jihad Commander in Tulkarem

Latest Developments

Amid a large-scale military operation in the West Bank, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) eliminated Palestinian Islamic Jihad commander Muhammed Jabber on August 29 in the city of Tulkarem. The IDF said the Shin Bet intelligence agency, Yamam (National Counter-Terrorism Unit), and military troops were dispatched to a mosque where Jabber was hiding with four gunmen. Israeli forces killed the gunmen inside the mosque after carrying out a “pressure cooker” — a tactic that involves increasing the volume of fire at a structure to force the occupants inside to surrender, The Times of Israel reported. Separately, Israeli forces killed three terrorists in a nearby building, while a fourth surrendered to troops.

The IDF implicated Muhammad Jabber, commonly known as “Abu Shujaa,” in several terrorist attacks, including the murder of Amnon Muchtar, a 66-year-old Israeli civilian, on June 22 in the West Bank city of Qalqilya.

Expert Analysis

“The elimination of an Iranian-backed Palestinian Islamic Jihad commander Abu Shujaa in the recent IDF operation in Tulkarem and other areas in the northern West Bank is an important achievement against terrorism. Iran has been seeking to fuel a rapidly growing wave of terror, and it is essential to blunt it. The elimination of Abu Shujaa is a step in the right direction.” — Seth J. Frantzman, FDD Adjunct Fellow

“The elimination of Shujaa adds to growing evidence that Israel is capturing and — if forced to — eliminating members of terrorist organizations responsible for the significant surge of violence in the West Bank. Furthermore, while Israel’s efforts have an impact on the ground, relying solely on a military strategy will not effectively address the violence in the West Bank. A diplomatic solution between the Palestinian Authority and the Israeli government would be a prudent approach to combat Iranian-supported terrorism in the territory collaboratively.” — Joe Truzman, Senior Research Analyst at FDD’s Long War Journal

IDF Launches Large-Scale West Bank Military Operation

On August 27, the IDF launched an overnight counterterrorism operation in the West Bank, focusing on locations such as Jenin and Tulkarem, where branches of various Palestinian terrorist organizations operate. By the following morning, the IDF reported the elimination of five “armed terrorists” in these areas, the apprehension of several “wanted suspects,” and the confiscation of M-16 rifles, ammunition, and other military equipment.

Additionally, IDF troops uncovered and dismantled explosives that terrorists had planted along local roads for use against Israeli forces. An aerial counterterrorism operation was also executed in the Far’a area, resulting in the deaths of four more “armed terrorists.”

Since the Hamas-led terrorist assault on October 7, the IDF has arrested over 4,000 wanted Palestinians across the West Bank, with more than 1,850 linked to Hamas.

Related Analysis

“Mapping Terrorism in the West Bank,” by Joe Truzman

“Israeli Military Launches Extensive Operation Against West Bank Terrorist Groups,” by Joe Truzman

“The West Bank: A 3-year Crisis Led by Palestinian Terrorist Groups,” by Joe Truzman