A firefight erupted near Jericho on Saturday after Israeli security forces raided the nearby Aqabat Jabr refugee camp, arresting 15 Palestinian suspects connected to an attempted shooting at the nearby Almog Junction on January 28.
Despite the arrest of Palestinians who may have aided the shooting, the main suspects are still at large and the Shin Bet hopes to use its significant surveillance and investigation resources to apprehend them, and by interrogating the suspects that have already been arrested.
Differing reports from the Palestinian health ministry indicated that between six and 13 Palestinians were wounded during the gunfight, two of them seriously.
The IDF warned the residents of the refugee camp of their entry, telling Palestinians living in the area to “avoid confrontations with security forces and keep your children at home.”
לוחמי צה"ל, שב"כ ומג"ב עצרו חשודים במעורבות בפעילות טרור במחנה הפליטים עקבת ג'בר בקרבת יריחו.לוחמי יחידת דובדבן, מגלן ולביאי הבקעה, פעלו הבוקר במחנה הפליטים עקבת ג'בר למעצר מבוקשים >> pic.twitter.com/lCpVmzSBUC
— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) February 4, 2023
Avoiding confrontation and remaining secure
On Friday afternoon, a suspect was shot and killed after he approached a nearby military post and rushed at Israeli troops in an attempt to steal weaponry.
During the past 11 months of Palestinian terror waves and IDF raids, it has been unusual for the IDF to operate in and around Jericho.
Whereas areas like Jenin are already less under control of the Palestinian Authority, giving the IDF more legitimacy and freedom of action, Jericho and other areas tend to be under greater PA control, leading the IDF to avoid confrontation. However, the PA recently cut security coordination with the IDF following a major IDF battle with Palestinians in Jenin on January 26.