Operations in Judea and Samaria: 2 terrorists down, border guard injured

On February 18th, IDF forces, along with the General Security Service (Shin Bet) and Border Police (MAGAV) officers, detained three terrorist suspects in Judea and Samaria. The detainees were handed over to Shin Bet investigators for questioning. Two terrorists were neutralized.

During an attempted arrest in Tulkarm, special forces killed one of the local leaders of Hamas militants, Ahmad Aufi, according to the IDF (Arab sources specify the full name of the deceased as Muhammad Ahmad Fayez al-Aufi). Aufi reportedly resisted arrest and was subsequently eliminated.

Additionally, a shootout occurred with a group of militants in Tulkarm, resulting in the death of one individual (according to Arab sources, the deceased was identified as 19-year-old Nabil Atta Muhammad Amer; PA sources report two more wounded militants who were hospitalized).

During the exchange of fire, a border guard soldier sustained serious injuries.

Three suspects were also apprehended in Ramallah and Nablus.

Since the war began on October 7, 2023, over 3,100 terror suspects have been detained in the Palestinian Authority, with more than 1,350 of them linked to the terrorist organization Hamas.