Israeli forces killed five Palestinian terrorists in the West Bank.
Undercover commandos struck in Bethlehem late Wednesday, killing a local Islamic Jihad leader who had long topped Israel’s wanted list. Also slain were two other Islamic Jihad members and a gunman from Al-Aksa Brigades. Military spokesmen said the Israeli unit sought to arrest the four but opened fire after spotting their guns.
Hours earlier, Israeli troops killed an Islamic Jihad gunman in Tulkarm after he shot at them.
There were no Israeli casualties in either incident, which came as Egypt tried to secure Hamas’ agreement to stop cross-border rocket salvoes from the Gaza Strip.
Islamic Jihad vowed revenge, prompting a nationwide security alert in Israel.
