In overnight counter-terrorism operations, IDF forces captured 20 wanted Palestinian Authority terrorists throughout Judea and Samaria. Among those apprehended Wednesday night were members of the Hamas terror organization. The Islamist Hamas is the ruling force in the PA government, having been overwhelmingly elected to power by PA Arabs in January 2006. Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit is currently being held captive in the Gaza Strip by Hamas and Hamas-allied terrorists. Five Hamas members were apprehended last night in the PA-controlled city of Kalkilya, just east of the pre-1967 Israeli city of Kfar Saba. Two Hamas terrorists were picked up in the Samaria city of Shechem, and another two southwest of Bethlehem. Northwest of Jenin, in northern Samaria, IDF forces captured three Palestinian Islamic Jihad members, as well. Another eight unidentified terrorists were apprehended south of Hevron. Also during the night, soldiers operating in Shechem spotted a cell of five armed and unidentified men and opened fire at them. There were injuries reported among the enemy gunmen. In Jenin, Arab militiamen opened fire at Israeli forces and detonated an explosive device planted under an IDF military vehicle. Early Thursday morning, PA attackers shot at Israeli soldiers near the community of Psagot, north of Jerusalem; and in Jenin, PA terrorists and IDF soldiers exchanged gunfire. No IDF troops were injured in any of the incidents. In an attack on a civilian target, Arab terrorists threw rocks at an Israeli bus near Bitin, northeast of Ramallah. There were no injuries reported, although the bus suffered some damage. On Wednesday, Israeli forces entered PA-controlled northern Gaza as part of a brief counter-terrorist operation in Beit Hanoun. One Islamic Jihad terrorist was killed, another was injured and a third was captured in the limited incursion. It was the first time IDF troops entered Gaza since Israel declared a unilateral ceasefire in the area several months ago.
