October 31st, 2005

IDF SPOKESPERSON ANNOUNCEMENT

Two Islamic Jihad terrorists, one of them a senior operative, and an
additional gunman killed in an IDF activity in the town of Kabatiya

During an IDF activity yesterday, October 30th 2005, in the town of
Kabatiya, south of Jenin, an IDF force encircled the house where,
according to IDF information, senior Islamic Jihad terrorists from the
terror organization's northern West Bank infrastructure were located.

The force called repeatedly on all those inside to exit the house. When
they failed to do so, the force utilized different measures in order to
try and persuade them to leave. During this time, Palestinians opened
fire at the force several times. The force identified two armed gunmen
attempting to flee the house and opened fire at them. One of the gunmen,
a wanted Islamic Jihad terrorist, was killed. An AK-47 assault rifle,
ammunition clip and a protective vest containing more weaponry were
found on his person. The vest was detonated in a controlled manner by
IDF sappers.

The force identified that the second gunman had been injured in the
shooting but had fled back into the house. The force continued to
surround the house. Four men, a woman and two children eventually
emerged from the building. A questioning of the four men revealed that
they were wanted Islamic Jihad terrorists and they were taken for
further questioning by security forces. A short while later, when the
forces entered the house, they found the body of a senior Islamic Jihad
terrorist, who had apparently died of the wounds he had sustained
previously. On his person, security forces found an AK-47 assault rifle,
an ammunition clip and a protective vest containing more weaponry, which
was detonated in a controlled manner by IDF sappers.

In a separate incident in Kabatiya, an IDF force encountered three armed
Palestinian gunmen who attempted to place an explosive device on the
route on which the IDF forces were traveling and attempted to fire at
the force. The force opened fire at them and one of the gunmen was
killed.

During the activity there were several separate incidents in which
explosive devices were activated against IDF forces and several
incidents of Palestinian gunmen opening fire at IDF forces. Two military
vehicles were damaged in these incidents.

The IDF and Israeli security forces will continue to act against the
terror infrastructure of the Islamic Jihad in the northern West Bank to
protect the safety and security of the citizens of Israel, while making
the utmost effort to cause minimal disturbance to the daily lives of
Palestinian civilians.