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Photo:
Noam Raz, 47. Published by IMEMC News

Police Special Anti-Terror Unit officer Noam Raz. Credit: Israel Police Spokesperson Published by Haaretz

Smoke billows from a house in the Jenin refugee camp on Friday during an Israeli military raid. Credit: JAAFAR ASHTIYEH / AFP Published by Haaretz
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by IMEMC News
May 14, 2022

A 47-year-old Israeli soldier, identified as Noam Raz, was shot and killed by Palestinian fighters Friday when the troops invaded the village of Burqin and Jenin refugee camp, in the Jenin District, in the northern West Bank.

Raz died on the same day that a young Palestinian who was wounded by Israeli soldiers last month while praying during the Holy Month of Ramadan died of his wounds, and just two days after a world-famous Palestinian journalist, Shireen Abu Akleh, was shot execution-style by Israeli soldiers while standing with other journalists in front of a stone wall in Jenin.

Shireen was shot with a live round in the head while wearing her press vest and helmet when an Israeli army sharpshooter fired one round at her.

The Ministry added that the soldiers first shot journalist Ali Sammoudi with a live round in the back, just as the journalists from various media agencies gathered in an open area in a clear line of sight from Israeli soldiers when the army committed its heinous crime.

Sammoudi, who was shot in the back, said that he, Shireen, and several other journalists gathered near a UNRWA-run school near Jenin refugee camp and were all wearing press vests and helmets before the soldiers shot him in the back and then shot Shireen with a live round in the head.

Raz was part of a squadron of troops that attacked the family home of Mohammad al-Dab’i in the village of Burqin in a pre-dawn raid.

The soldiers besieged the home for hours, while Palestinian resistance fighters gathered inside to try to protect the home. Some of those inside the home eventually came outside with their hands raised and were taken by the soldiers, but Israeli forces continued the siege and began to open fire on those that remained inside, wounding eleven.

During the invasion of the Palestinian village, the invading Israeli soldiers came under fire from Palestinian resistance fighters, one of whom apparently fired a bullet that hit Raz. Israeli soldiers shot 11 Palestinians during their assault on the village.

One of the Palestinians who was shot and injured was identified as Daoud Zubeidi, brother of the famous Palestinian prisoner Zakaria Zubeidi, who was one of six prisoners who managed to escape from a high-security Israeli prison last year by digging a tunnel with spoons.

The high-profile prison escape was a source of embarrassment for the Israeli government, which prides itself on its security measures — arms and security equipment are Israel’s biggest export.

After he was shot, Raz was taken to the Rambam Hospital in Haifa with critical gunshot wounds, and later died of his wounds.

Also on Friday, Israeli troops shot a Palestinian who allegedly threw a rock at a passing Israeli vehicle.
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Israeli Officer Killed, Palestinian Militants Wounded in Jenin Standoff

Islamic Jihad militants surrender after hours of fighting around the Jenin refugee camp, where journalist Shireen Abu Akleh was killed earlier this week

by Jack Khoury, Yaniv Kubovich, Josh Breiner, and Hagar Shezaf for Haaretz
May 13, 2022

An Israeli officer wounded during an hours-long standoff with Palestinian militants at the Jenin refugee camp on Friday succumbed to his wounds, Border Police said. The fighting also left two Palestinians in critical condition.

At least 13 Palestinians were wounded in clashes in the city and nearby village of Burqin, in the northern West Bank, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. Two of them are in critical condition.

Israeli police said a member of its Special Anti-Terror Unit was shot in Burqin, in the northern West Bank. Noam Raz, 47, was taken to hospital in serious condition and was later pronounced dead.

Israeli military forces, including the Police Special Anti-Terror Unit, surrounded the house of Islamic Jihad militant Mahmoud al-Daba'i at the Jenin refugee camp. This comes two days after Shireen Abu Akleh, a reporter for Qatar-based Al Jazeera network, was killed in an exchange of gunfire between Israeli forces and Palestinian gunmen at the same area.

As the special force was about to leave Burqin the fire exchanges resumed, leaving Raz wounded. Daba'i and his brother eventually surrendered.

According to an Israeli security source, Golani Brigade and Special Anti-Terror Unit forces arrived in the village at 7:30 A.M. to arrest al-Daba'I and his brother.

A rocket was fired at al-Daba'I's house after the forces realized only he and his brother were inside, the source said. "Heavy fire was aimed at us and our armored vehicles were significantly damaged during the incident."

After al-Daba'i and his brother were arrested, and the Special Forces were preparing to leave the area, the source said, Raz was shot in the back from a distance of about 300 meters (984 feet). The shot was fired from the western part of the house.

Raz, a resident of the West Bank outpost of Kida, joined the Police Special Anti-Terror Unit in 1999 and served in a variety of roles. He is survived by a wife and six children.

Expressing his condolences, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said: "We lost a true hero today." Defense Minister Benny Gantz also extended his condolences, and vowed to "continue fighting terrorist, their handlers and accomplices and those who try to hurt Israeli citizens."

Israel has conducted near-daily raids in Jenin and other parts of the West Bank in recent weeks, following a series of deadly attacks in Israel carried out by militants from the area.

According to Palestinian reports, Daoud Zubeidi, brother of prominent Fatah military leader Zakaria Zubeidi, was hit in the stomach during Friday's clashes, and was taken to an Israeli hospital in critical condition.

Also on Friday, residents of the Jenin area said Israeli forces fired a projectile towards a home near Jenin in an apparent effort to arrest suspects inside. Palestine TV footage showed black plumes of smoke rising from the house. The Israeli military did not immediately comment.

Israeli military officials said that some of the forces that entered the refugee camp were there as part of the Israeli probe into Abu Akleh's death.

Earlier on Friday, Israeli soldiers fired at a Palestinian man who the military said attempted to carry out an attack against Israelis near the settlement of Beit El. Footage from the incident shows the suspect throwing a brick at an Israeli car and trying to pry open its doors before approaching an Israeli soldier holding a rock.

The suspect was taken to a hospital in Jerusalem in moderate condition. According to the Israeli military, the suspect was carrying a knife and a bottle with acid. No Israeli casualties were reported.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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