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Israeli forces arrest Palestinian militant chief in operation

Xinhua, February 16, 2016 Adjust font size:

Israeli forces arrested overnight a chief Palestinian militant suspected of involvement in planning attacks against Israelis, Israel's security service said on Monday.

Israeli forces operating overnight arrested chief of the Tanzim militant organization, Jamal Abu Lel, 48, during an operation at the Qalandiya refugee camp, located between Jerusalem and Ramallah in the West Bank, the Shin Bet Security Agency said on Monday.

Tanzim is a group affiliated the Fatah movement, the party led by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

According to the Israeli security services, Abu-Lel orchestrated shooting attacks against Israelis and funneled funds for militant activity in the vicinity of his village.

The arrest comes amid heightened Israeli military activity in the West Bank, including intermittent imposition of closures on Palestinian villages, as well as overnight operations and arrests.

The activity was triggered by an ongoing five-month wave of violence which claimed the lives of over 160 Palestinians and 26 Israelis.

Over 20 Palestinians were injured earlier on Monday in clashes with Israeli soldiers at the Al-Amari refugee camp near Ramallah, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.

The Israeli military spokesperson said that one soldier was lightly wounded.

Also on Monday, a 15-year-old Palestinian girl was arrested after pulling a knife from her pocket near the Damascus Gate in East Jerusalem, where last night two Palestinians were killed after attempting to attack Israeli security forces.

A second knife was found in her bag, Israeli police spokeswoman Luba Samri said in a statement.

The security agency released updated figures on Monday regarding the latest wave of attacks, saying there have been 228 attacks or attempted attacks since Oct. 1.

Thirty-seven percent of the assailants were between the ages of 16 and 20.

Figures also show that 74 percent of the attacks took place in the West Bank, with 16 percent of overall attacks taking place in Jerusalem.

Eighty percent of the assailants resided in the West Bank, nearly half of them in Hebron. Endit