Israeli forces kill wanted terrorist in overnight shootout

Israeli forces killed a Palestinian terrorist who shot at them when they tried arresting him.

Special Forces shot and killed a wanted Palestinian terrorist in Ramallah early Monday morning after he refused arrest and fired at them.

Basel al-Aaraj, 31, originally from Bethlehem, was the leader of a terrorist cell planning to carry out attacks on Israeli targets, police said.

The forces surrounded his home and called on him to surrender. In response, al-Aaraj fired on the troops. They responded by firing back, and after a two-hour gunfight, they killed him.

No Israelis were harmed in the incident.

Two more Palestinians were injured in riots that ensued, police said.

Authorities found several automatic weapons when they searched al-Aaraj’s home.

“Al-Aaraj directed the cell and was responsible for purchasing the weaponry,” police said in a statement.

Palestinian sources reported that al-Araj had served time in a Palestinian Authority (PA) prison for planning terror attacks against Israelis.

In related news, IDF forces carried out counter-terror operations on Sunday night throughout Judea and Samaria, arresting 12 Palestinians, seven of them members of Hamas.

In addition, security seized thousands of shekels in Bethlehem. Israeli intelligence estimates that the money had been allocated for funding terrorism.

By: Aryeh Savir, World Israel News

IDFPalestinian terrorRamallah