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