Photo by
Nadav Goldstein/TPS-IL on 6 January, 2025
Islamic Jihad Terrorist Killed in Shootout Was Freed in Prisoner Exchange
Jerusalem, 16 April, 2025 (TPS-IL) -- Israeli security forces killed Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorists Muhammad Zakharana and Ruh Hazmiya, the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) said on Wednesday. Hazmiya was freed in a prisoner release during a temporary ceasefire earlier this year.
The Shin Bet said the two were killed in a shootout with soldiers in a cave near Jenin. Weapons, weapon parts, a ceramic vest, cartridges and ammunition were found on their bodies.
Zakharana was part of a terror cell that killed a policeman and two teachers in a shooting attack near the Palestinian village of Al-Funduq in January.
Other terrorists who served as assistants to the two were arrested, and guns were found on them.
During a temporary ceasefire in January and February, Israeli authorities released 1,778 imprisoned Palestinian terrorists in exchange for 33 hostages.
Since Hamas’ October 7 attack, Israeli forces have arrested more than 6,000 wanted Palestinians in counterterror operations in Judea and Samaria. Around 40 percent were affiliated with Hamas.
