April 2, 2022: Saif Hifthy Abu Libda, 25, was killed by undercover Israeli soldiers who also killed two other Palestinians in the same attack at the ‘Arraba junction, south of the northern West Bank city of Jenin.
The Palestinian TV said the undercover soldiers fired a barrage of live ammunition at a Palestinian car, killing the three young men and wounding others.
The undercover Israeli soldiers surrounded the Palestinian car before opening fire at it, clearly indicating that the soldiers weren’t there to arrest anybody but to assassinate them.
The Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) said its medics could not approach the three young men for more than two hours, especially since the soldiers declared the area a closed military zone and added that a fourth Palestinian was injured.
The soldiers also fired many gas bombs and concussion grenades at the Palestinians who tried to enter the area.
The two other Palestinians who were killed in the same Israeli military attack have been identified as Khalil Mohammad Tawalba, 24, from Jenin refugee camp, and Sa’eb Tayseer Abahra, 30, from the al-Yamoun town, west of Jenin
The army told the PRCS medics to bring body bags to take the corpses of the three Palestinians, but the move was a ploy because that is when the soldiers put the bodies in an Israeli ambulance and drove away.
The Palestinian medics were never allowed to approach the three young men and therefore could not administer any first aid that could have saved their lives.
Eyewitnesses said the soldiers pulled the Palestinians out of their car and again fired several rounds at them while on the ground to ensure the kill. The soldiers also towed the car driven by the three slain Palestinians.
The Israeli army and internal security said they have no intention to transfer their corpses to their families for burial.
In a statement, the Al-Quds Brigades, the armed wing of the Islamic Jihad, said the three Palestinians were members of the group.
“As we mourn our fighters who were assassinated in a cowardice Israeli assassination, we vow to continue the struggle until liberation,” the Brigades said, “We vow to our people to continue our legitimate duty, to continue resisting the Zionist enemy. Our people never surrender and will continue the struggle for the liberation of Jerusalem and Palestine.”
In a statement condemning the assassination, the Hamas movement said: “The ongoing killing of our people in the West Bank will not grant Israel peace or stability and will not grant it legitimacy for its illegal occupation of our land. On the contrary, these attacks will only grant our people more power, determination, and unity in resisting the occupier everywhere.”
Israeli sources said the army was operating in the area to arrest Palestinians, while the Israeli Security Agency (Shin Bet) alleged that the Palestinians “were responsible for a shooting attack in the Tulkarem, and planned additional attacks against the soldiers and other targets.”
The sources added that the soldiers also found weapons in the car and confiscated them.
The Israeli Jerusalem Post claimed the three were killed during an exchange of fire with the undercover forces and added that four soldiers were injured, one seriously.
The undercover soldiers fired several live rounds at the car before the reported exchange of fire took place, Palestinian eyewitnesses said.
The Israeli army said the undercover soldiers monitored the Palestinians for several hours before killing them, adding that they were members of the Al-Aqsa Brigades, the armed wing of the Fateh movement.
However, the Al-Quds Brigades, the armed wing of the Islamic Jihad Movement, has confirmed that the three are members of the group.
“We vow to continue the struggle and continue resisting the occupiers until liberation and independence,” it stated, “Our fighters were assassinated in a cowardly attack at the Arraba junction. We will continue the path of resistance, determined to achieve independence.”
The Palestinian National Initiative condemned the assassination and said the preplanned Israeli attack and the fact that the soldiers prevented the Palestinian ambulances from reaching the three young men, especially to administer what could have been lifesaving first aid, proves that the army and its leadership are only interested in escalation, and want to resume their assassinations’ policies.
The Initiative denounced the ongoing illegal Israeli occupation and its crimes against the Palestinian people and added that this assassination, on the first day of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, is a clear indication that Israel wants to continue its crimes amidst the silence of the International Community.
On Friday afternoon, Israeli soldiers killed a young Palestinian man, Ahmad Younis al-Atrash, 29, during a procession in Hebron city in the southern part of the occupied West Bank.
Saif was from Nur Shams refugee camp, east of Tulkarem, in the northern part of the West Bank. Source: IMEMC