The IDF is expanding Operation Iron Wall, the effort to battle terrorism emanating from the Palestinian Authority-controlled areas of Judea and Samaria.
Around the clock, Israeli combat soldiers trudge up and down stairwells — some of them in abandoned buildings, others in local homes — fully exposed to possible sniper fire as they search for terrorists and weapons that threaten Israeli civilians.
On Monday, IDF and Shin Bet (ISA) forces guided an Air Force aircraft in carrying out a strike that eliminated Ihab Abu Atiwi, a terrorist who served as the head of the Hamas terrorist organization in Tulkarem. A second terrorist was killed as well.
قبل ايام شارك في مسيرة استقبال تحريضية لسجناء حماس الارهابيين الذين أطلق سراحهم. شارك في المهرجان التحريضي وكان يعمل نفسه ابو علي وقبضاي مع الأسلحة ومع العنتريات والشعارات لكنه اليوم اصبح خبر كان. هذا هو المدعو ايهاب عطيوي قائد شبكة حماس الارهابية في طولكرم pic.twitter.com/IolxQYW4xo
— افيخاي ادرعي (@AvichayAdraee) January 27, 2025
“A few days ago, [Atiwi] participated in an inciting reception march for the released Hamas terrorist prisoners,” IDF Arabic spokesperson LTC Avichay Adraee said in a post on the X social media platform.
“He participated in the inciting festival and acted like Abu Ali, a tough guy with weapons, bravado and slogans — but today he is a thing of the past. This is the so-called Ihab Atiwi, the leader of the Hamas terrorist network in Tulkarem.”
One week ago, Israeli security forces launched a massive counterterrorism operation in the terror hotbed of Jenin. So far, the forces have eliminated over 15 terrorists, apprehended more than 40 wanted suspects, and confiscated dozens of weapons.
As part of the operation, soldiers of the Commando Brigade this weekend located an explosive device hidden inside a washing machine in one of the buildings in Jenin.
The troops also dismantled dozens of explosives planted beneath roads intended to attack troops, an ongoing operation.
In addition, the forces located an observation command center containing gas canisters intended for manufacturing explosive devices.
IDF soldiers, Shin Bet (ISA) intelligence agents and Border Police forcers are continuing the operation, guiding aerial strikes on terrorist infrastructure sites and carefully removing the numerous road bombs planted by terrorists beneath and along routes traveled daily.
