In an escalation of violence, Abu Hamza, the spokesperson for the militant group Islamic Jihad, has claimed responsibility for a deadly attack on Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) troops in Jenin. The announcement was made in a statement published overnight, which was subsequently highlighted by Joe Truzman, a senior research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) and editor of the Long War Journal, on his official X handle.
The attack involved the detonation of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) that targeted IDF soldiers conducting operations in Jenin. According to the statement from Islamic Jihad, the explosions led to the death of one Israeli soldier and inflicted injuries on several others.
Abu Hamza (Photo Credit: BBC)
The IDF confirmed the casualties, with a spokesperson stating that the fallen soldier was part of a larger force engaged in counter-terrorism activities in the area. The injured soldiers were evacuated to nearby hospitals for treatment, and their current conditions remain undisclosed.
This incident marks a notable increase in the intensity of confrontations between Israeli forces and Palestinian militant groups in the West Bank, particularly in the volatile city of Jenin. The area has been a focal point of recent military operations aimed at dismantling militant networks and preventing terrorist attacks.
The tweet from Truzman read, "Abu Hamza, Islamic Jihad's spokesperson, published a statement saying his organization is responsible for detonating IEDs against Israeli troops in Jenin overnight. The attack led to the death of an IDF soldier and the wounding of other troops.