Jenin IDF Operations: West Bank Security Updates & News

Two years after his son murdered three Israelis at a Tel Aviv bar, a prolonged manhunt for Fathi Hazem ended overnight Thursday when he was killed during an Israeli military operation in Jenin. The elder Hazem was shot dead after attempting to stab a soldier from the Paratroopers Brigade's 890th Battalion with a knife.

Israeli forces were conducting an arrest operation targeting individuals involved in planning terrorist attacks in the area. As troops approached one of the designated buildings, Hazem emerged wielding a knife and lunged forcefully at one of the soldiers. The soldier responded immediately, opening fire and neutralizing the attacker on the spot. No Israeli personnel were injured in the incident.

Shortly after the confrontation, security officials confirmed that the assailant was Fathi Hazem, father of Raad Hazem, who carried out the deadly shooting at the Ilka bar on Dizengoff Street in Tel Aviv in April 2022. That attack claimed the lives of Tomer Morad, Eytam Magini, and Barak Lufan.

From Security Commander to Incitement Symbol

The elder Hazem previously served as a commander in the Palestinian National Security Forces in the Nablus area, a position roughly equivalent to a brigade commander in the Israeli military. Even during his service, he was known for unstable behavior and extremist views, which led to internal conflicts and eventually his departure from the role.

Within hours of his son's death in 2022, Fathi Hazem delivered a speech from his balcony that went viral on social media. In it, he praised terrorism and called for victory and the "purification of the Al-Aqsa Mosque," becoming a widely circulated source of incitement.

Realizing he would be sought for questioning by Israeli security forces, Hazem went underground along with another son. The pair hid for an extended period inside the Jenin refugee camp under the protection of armed factions.

Rising Prominence Among Extremist Circles

During his time in hiding, he became a prominent figure among extremist elements, gaining sympathy beyond the Palestinian Authority's borders. Graffiti depicting him appeared in refugee camps in Lebanon, and he leveraged his status to incite violence on social media and raise funds from terrorist organizations.

According to Palestinian reports, although he publicly portrayed himself as protecting his family, he was actually estranged from his relatives. Even after subsequent attacks, including a 2023 ramming incident on the Tel Aviv promenade, he continued to publicly glorify acts of terrorism.

Israeli security agencies tracked Hazem's activities, but because he was not classified as a "ticking bomb" and given the operational complexity of raiding the fortified refugee camp, officials decided to wait for an appropriate operational opportunity. That moment came when he directly attacked IDF soldiers, bringing the manhunt to its conclusion.

Ongoing Military Activity in Jenin

The Jenin area is considered one of the primary terrorism hubs in Judea and Samaria. In recent weeks, security forces have conducted frequent operations there aimed at dismantling terrorist infrastructure and preventing attacks.

Just days ago, an IDF officer and soldier were wounded by an explosive device in the same area while conducting a preparatory patrol ahead of establishing a permanent post inside the refugee camp.

Earlier this week, reserve soldiers from the Duvdevan special forces unit, operating on intelligence from the Shin Bet security service, arrested two suspects in the Jenin and Al-Yamun areas who were involved in advancing terrorist plots against security forces and Israeli civilians.

Security forces continue operations against terrorist infrastructure in the region as part of a revised operational doctrine in Judea and Samaria, designed to strengthen military presence in key terrorism centers and prevent the rebuilding of Islamic Jihad and Hamas capabilities in the area.