As part of “Operation Iron Wall,” Israeli forces carried out a nighttime counterterrorism mission between Wednesday and Thursday in the Burqin area, near Jenin in Samaria. Two terrorists, Mohammad Nazzal and Khatiba Shalabi, residents of the Arab village, Kabatiya and members of Islamic Jihad, were killed during an armed confrontation. The cell had carried out a deadly attack on Route 55, killing Rachel Cohen, Aliza Reiz, and Staff Sergeant Elad Yaakov Winkelstein earlier this month.
During the operation, several accomplices who assisted in the attack were arrested and handed over to the Shin Bet for questioning. One IDF soldier sustained moderate injuries and was evacuated for medical treatment, with his family notified.
Defense Minister Israel Katz praised the successful operation, stating, “Every murderer or supporter of terror will pay the full price. We will continue to act forcefully in ‘Operation Iron Wall’ to dismantle the terrorist infrastructure in Jenin and ensure it never again becomes a haven for murderers or a breeding ground for terror attacks.”
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Families of Victims Informed
Oz Elvetik, head of the Kedumim Regional Council in Samaria, shared that he and Ephraim Brigade Commander Col. Nathaniel Samocha personally informed the families of the victims about the operation. “Two of the terrorists were eliminated in a military operation in the Arab village of Burqin, northern Samaria,” Elvetik said. “With God’s help, the third terrorist’s days are numbered as well.”
The Deadly Attack on Route 55
The attack took place earlier this month when the terrorists opened fire on a bus and a car, near the Arab village of Al-Funduq, between the Israeli communities, Karnei Shomron and Kedumim in Samaria. Three people were killed: Rachel Cohen, 73, Aliza Reiz, 70, and Staff Sergeant Elad Yaakov Winkelstein, 35. Five others were injured.
Remembering the Victims
IDF Neutralizes Two Terrorists Responsible for Samaria Attack. IDF Forces Operating in Jenin (Photo: IDF Spokesperson)
Elad Yaakov Winkelstein, 35, lived in Kibbutz Ein HaNatziv in the Beit Shean Valley, and worked as a police investigator in Ariel. Previously, he served as a security coordinator in Kedumim, where he once lived. During the attack, he managed to fire two bullets at the terrorists before being fatally wounded. He is survived by his wife Tal and their children, Naveh and Omer.
Rachel Cohen, 73, lived in Kedumim and was a retired educational counselor. She is survived by her husband and five daughters. Naomi, Rachel’s daughter, described her as a woman “full of joy, kindness, and positive energy,” adding, “She always chose to see the good in life and raised us with the same perspective.”
Aliza Reiz, 70, also from Kedumim, worked as an educational counselor and was an active community volunteer. Her son Yair shared, “She was a force of nature, someone who accomplished so much with her determination and passion. She was a loving mother and grandmother who cared deeply about everyone around her.”