Five Palestinians killed in IDF West Bank raid against Hamas terror cell

Five Palestinians were killed in the West Bank on Monday after firing at IDF soldiers operating against a Hamas terror cell, while another 12 suspects were arrested in other operations. 

The IDF operated in the Aqabat Jabr refugee camp near Jericho to arrest a Hamas cell responsible for a shooting attack last month at a restaurant in a nearby community.

The attack on January 28th failed due to a firearm malfunction, leading the two Palestinian assailants to flee. The IDF said the suspects were hiding in the refugee camp, assisted by locals and families.

This is the second big IDF operation in the West Bank in the past two weeks which left numerous dead.

Last month, an Israeli army raid left nine Palestinians killed in Jenin, including several Islamic Jihad members who were planning a major terrorist attack, according to the army and Shin Bet intelligence agency.

Since then, two separate Palestinian terror attacks in East Jerusalem left seven Israelis killed and five wounded. The first attack was committed outside a synagogue in East Jerusalem, while the second was carried out in the City of David by a 13-year-old Palestinian boy.

Hamas and Islamic Jihad said they were revenge for the army raid in Jenin, but neither took direct responsibility for the attacks.