Ian Patrick, FISM news
Amidst a wave of attacks from terrorists and other individuals in Israel and the West Bank, the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) and the Israeli government have begun a new operation to tamp down the violence.
Dubbed “Operation Wave Breaker,” it is a joint operation among Israeli forces to respond to the recent uptick in stabbings, shootings and violence. The attacks have notably been carried out by Arab individuals on Israeli citizens, such as the March 22 stabbings in Beersheba and the more recent shooting in Bnei Brak.
As part of this operation, IDF announced on Twitter that it and other Israeli forces “conducted counterterrorism activities in Jenin to apprehend terrorist suspects this morning.” They were shot at by “Palestinian gunmen” resulting in the injury of one IDF soldier.
IDF soldiers & Israel Border Police conducted counterterrorism activities in Jenin to apprehend terrorist suspects this morning.
Palestinian gunmen opened fire at the soldiers, who responded with fire. 1 IDF soldier was injured & evacuated to a hospital for medical attention.
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) March 31, 2022
The Jerusalem Post reports that “three Palestinian gunmen were reported killed” after IDF soldiers responded with gunfire. Meanwhile, the wounded soldier “was taken to a hospital to receive medical treatment.”
Later IDF announced that another stabbing attack occurred “on a bus at the Neve Daniel junction.” An Israeli citizen was stabbed by what IDF reported was a “Palestinian terrorist,” and another citizen intervened to “neutralize” the assailant.
STABBING ATTACK: A Palestinian terrorist stabbed an Israeli civilian on a bus at the Neve Daniel junction. Another civilian on the bus operated to thwart the attack and neutralized the terrorist.
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) March 31, 2022
The same Jerusalem Post report says the Israeli citizen “suffered critical injuries” from the stabbing. A police spokesperson reportedly said the attack was carried out with a screwdriver. The IDF entered the town of Tarkumiya shortly after the stabbing, reportedly to seek out the terrorist’s family.
In response to the increased movement and counterterrorism acts from Israeli forces, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), a terrorist group, is announcing that they have gone into “full readiness.”
“Based on the decision of the Secretary-General, the Mujahid Commander Ziad al-Nakhala, we announce the raising of full readiness among our fighters in all military formations,” a military spokesperson for the PIJ said.
In a tweet on March 29 Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett remarked that “Israel is facing a wave of murderous Arab terrorism.” He further stated that “the security forces are working,” before adding the nation “will fight terror with perseverance, stubbornness and an iron fist.”
More recently, Bennett addressed the nation and told citizens with gun permits that they should acquire and carry a weapon at all times. Bennett said that “alertness and responsibility” is expected of the Israeli citizen before telling permit owners to carry a weapon, according to reporting by All Israel News.
The increase in violence coincides with the Islamic month of Ramadan, which is expected to begin on Saturday, April 2.