The raid was the latest in a series of escalating tensions during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Clashes and demonstrations in Jerusalem last year helped spark an 11-day war with Hamas fighters in the Gaza Strip. In Saturday’s raid, the Israeli army said it had carried out what it described as a counter-terrorism operation in and around the city of Jenin – the area in the North West Bank where the gunman lived in Thursday’s attack. He said troops were searching the perpetrator’s home “to look into the possible demolition of the house”. Israel often demolishes the homes of Palestinian attackers in a practice that it says deters future attackers, but which critics reject as a collective punishment. The military said it had also carried out an operation to arrest people suspected of militant activity. During the raids, he said soldiers came under fire. The troops responded, killing one fighter. The militant group Islamic Jihad recognized the man as a member. The army said a second gunman was shot and wounded and taken for medical treatment. He stated that the man’s weapon was confiscated. Jenin is considered a stronghold of Palestinian fighters. Israeli forces often come under fire when operating in the area. Even the Palestinian Authority, which manages parts of the occupied West Bank and coordinates with Israel on security issues, seems to have minimal control. In Thursday’s shooting, a Palestinian gunman opened fire in central Tel Aviv, killing three people. The perpetrator, identified as Raad Hazem, 28, of Jenin, was later killed by Israeli forces. Israel has taken steps to reduce tensions, including granting thousands of work permits to residents of the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip and allowing thousands of Palestinians to enter Jerusalem to pray Ramadan on Friday.
