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Palestinian gunmen opened fire at the Jalama checkpoint in the northern West Bank on Thursday, damaging a building but causing no injuries, prompting the Defense Ministry to close the crossing.
“The crossing is closed and security forces are scanning the area,” the ministry said. The Palestinian gunmen fled the scene.
The Jalama crossing, near the Palestinian town of the same name, has been the target of several shootings in recent months.
The crossing was temporarily closed following separate attacks in September and last month.
The checkpoint is mainly used by Arab Israelis traveling to and from the Palestinian city of Jenin for business or pleasure, as well as Palestinians who need to travel to Israel for work.
The closure is expected to have an economic impact on the Jenin region.
The Israeli military on Thursday morning arrested a suspected terrorist in connection with the killing of a senior police commando in Jenin earlier this year.
In recent months, Palestinian gunmen have repeatedly targeted military posts, soldiers manning the West Bank security barrier, Israeli settlements and civilians on roads.
The number of shootings has decreased in recent weeks following major gains by the IDF against the Nablus-based Lions Den terrorist group.
Israeli security forces have stepped up operations in the West Bank following a series of Palestinian attacks in the spring of this year that left 19 people dead.
Since September, three more Israeli civilians have been killed in attacks.
Four soldiers were also killed during the attacks and arrests in the West Bank.
The army’s operation made more than 2,000 arrests in nighttime raids and killed more than 130 Palestinians, many – but not all – of them during attacks or clashes with security forces.
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