A Hamas fighter has been shot dead by Israeli troops in an overnight raid in the occupied West Bank. In a statement, the military claimed the man had been responsible for the drive-by attack that killed Rabbi Michael Mark on 1 July. Israeli forces also arrested three other militants.
Residents of the Palestinian village of Surif, near the city of Hebron, reported lengthy exchanges of fire between Israeli forces and gunmen. Islamist group Hamas identified the man killed in the raid as Mohammad al-Fakih and said he was a member of its armed wing, the al-Qassam Brigades. The house in which Fakih was hiding out was damaged during the fighting and then demolished by an Israeli bulldozer.
A digger is used to demolish a house that was severely damaged in an exchange of fire between Israeli soldiers and Palestinians during an operation to find the men accused of murdering a rabbiHazem Bader/AFPFlames are seen during a raid by Israeli forces on a house in which Palestinian Hamas fighter Mohammad al-Fakih was hiding out in the West Bank village of SurifMussa Qawasma/ReutersA digger is used to demolish a house in the village of Surif after it was severely damaged in an exchange of fireHazem Bader/AFPIsraeli forces carry the body of a Palestinian man accused of murdering a rabbiHazem Bader/AFPIsraeli forces carry a body away form Mohamed Fakir's house in SurifHazem Bader/AFPIsraeli forces climb the stairs of a house in the village of Surif following an operation to find the men accused of murdering a rabbiHazem Bader/AFPAn Israeli soldier arrests one of the men accused in murdering a rabbiHazem Bader/AFPLocal people look at the ruins of a house that was severely damaged in an exchange of fire between Israeli soldiers and PalestiniansHazem Bader/AFPPalestinian inspect the wreckage of a house in Surif after an operation to find the men who murdered a rabbiHazem Bader/AFPPalestinians sort through the rubble of a house where Hamas fighter Mohammad al-Fakih was shot dead by Israeli troopsMussa Qawasma/ReutersPalestinians check the damage to a house where Hamas fighter Mohammad al-Fakih was shot dead by Israeli troopsMussa Qawasma/Reuters
Hebron resident Jamal Hamaiadat told Reuters: "There were four people renting part of the house, they started targeting the house with missiles, and they surrounded the entire village and cut the electricity. They surrounded the village for around eight hours."
Another resident, Jamil Ahdoush, told Reuters: ""The home has four storeys, two up the road and two beneath. The one above the road, they demolished with missiles; they thought that the man was killed but he kept resisting from 22:30pm until dawn prayers."
Rabbi Michael Mark, 48, was killed on 1 July when his car crashed after a drive-by shooting near Hebron. His wife and two of his children were in the car at the time and were wounded.
3 July 2016: Relatives and friends carry the body and coffin of Michael Mark, who was killed during a Palestinian shooting attack on his car in the West Bank, to his grave during his funeral in JerusalemBaz Ratner/ReutersRelatives and friends mourn during the funeral of Michael MarkBaz Ratner/ReutersThe son of Rabbi Michael Mark sits on the lap of Yossi Cohen, head of Mossad, during his father's funeralBaz Ratner/Reuters3 July 2016: Relatives and friends mourn during the funeral of Rabbi Michael Mark, who was killed during a Palestinian shooting attack on his car in the West BankBaz Ratner/Reuters
Since October 2015, Palestinian street attacks have killed at least 33 Israelis and two visiting Americans. At least 205 Palestinians have been killed, 139 of whom Israel said were assailants. Others died during clashes and protests.
