Israeli security forces on Wednesday morning killed Muhammad Zakarna, a member of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, during a counterterrorism operation near Jenin.
Zakarna was identified as one of the terrorists involved in the deadly shooting attack in the West Bank village of al-Funduq in January.
According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Zakarna, a resident of Qabatiya, was among three gunmen who opened fire on civilians in al-Funduq on January 6, killing Master Sgt. Elad Yaakov Winkelstein, an off-duty Israeli police officer, and civilians Rachel Cohen and Aliza Raiz.
The IDF said Zakarna was located in a cave near the village of Misilyah following intelligence provided by the Shin Bet security agency.
During the attempted arrest by Yamam, the Israel Police’s elite counterterrorism unit, and IDF troops, a gun battle broke out between the forces and the suspects.
The military said the forces used shoulder-launched missiles during the exchange. Zakarna and another Islamic Jihad member, Marooh Hazima, also from Qabatiya, were killed.
Hazima had previously been released from Israeli prison in the November 2023 ceasefire-hostage deal with Hamas and had since resumed terrorist activity, the IDF said.
A number of weapons and military gear were recovered from the scene. Several accomplices were also detained and found to be in possession of handguns.
The IDF confirmed that the other two terrorists behind the al-Funduq attack, Qutaiba al-Shalabi and Mohammed Nazal, both affiliated with Hamas — were previously killed in an Israeli operation in Qabatiya on January 23.
