(A7/TJV NEWS) A gun battle broke out in the Palestinian Authority-administered city of Shechem (Nablus) in Samaria Wednesday morning, after Israeli forces surrounded a building where a wanted terrorist was hiding.

IDF soldiers, Border Police officers, and members of the elite Yamam special forces unit took part in the operation in the Kasbah of Shechem.

Terrorists opened fire on the Israeli forces, who responded in kind.

Breaking News: 9 terrorists killed, nearly 100 wounded in Samaria gun battle. IDF forces kill 9 terrorists, including 2 involved in murder of soldier. 97 more wounded. #Israel #BreakingNews @IDF #terrorism #Samaria pic.twitter.com/JXEPHdvlku

— The Jewish Voice (@JewishVoice) February 22, 2023

Nine terrorists were killed in the gun battle, including two who were involved in the murder of Staff Sergeant Ido Baruch. The 21-year-old soldier was shot and killed by terrorists last year near the town of Shavei Shomron in Samaria.

The slain terrorists included senior members of Palestinian Islamic Jihad, as well as terrorists from several other groups. Musab Munir Muhammad Awais, 26, a leader of the Balata Brigade, was listed among the dead, as was Al Quds Brigades leader Muhammed Abu Bakr.

Palestinian Authority health officials reported that 97 Palestinian Arabs were wounded in the gun battle.

שכם: חילופי אש בין כוחותינו למחבלים רימוני עשן, דיווח על ירי טיל לבית… pic.twitter.com/CcOjb5GxOF

— חדשות הימין בטוויטר (@HdswtHymyn) February 22, 2023

No Israeli security personnel were killed or wounded in the battle.

Locals claimed that a missile was fired by Israeli soldiers at the building in question.

Overnight, IDF forces working in conjunction with Shin Bet agents and Border Police officers, operated in a number of villages across Judea and Samaria, arresting five terror suspects.

יממ סיירת גולני ומגב כעת בקסבה של שכם בסגירה על מבוקש pic.twitter.com/AcGiqunKoP

— Or Heller אור הלר (@OrHeller) February 22, 2023

‘We will not give ourselves up’

After calling on the two wanted terrorists to surrender, troops fired smoke grenades and shoulder-propelled missiles at the home, in an attempt to force the men to leave the building, WIN reported

Instead, the men began firing at troops, sparking an intense gun battle that lasted for several minutes. Videos circulating on social media from the clashes show smoke rising from the building where Aslim and Abu-Bakar were hiding, and rapid gunfire could be heard.

“I am not surrendering. My brother [Abu-Bakar] and I are under siege. God will not forgive those who sold us out,” Aslim said in a voice recording that he posted to his Facebook page, translated by Ynet. “There is no god but Allah and Muhammad is his messenger,” he added.

בשכם לפחות 3 הרוגים. ייתכן ארבעה או חמישה. כוחות היממ וגולני בדרך החוצה ללא נפגעים. פעולה עם הרבה אש. pic.twitter.com/xyRoQ9nU5C

— Or Heller אור הלר (@OrHeller) February 22, 2023

 “We remained men and did not run away, and we will not give ourselves up. We are on the path to martyrdom,” Abu-Bakar said in his own Facebook post.

A spokesman from the Islamic Jihad terror group confirmed that Aslim and Abu-Bakar were killed during the gun battle, calling them a “living example of sacrifice and courage” and emphasizing that they set an example “that every Palestinian should follow.”

The Lions’ Den terror group sent messages via social media platforms calling on locals to attack IDF soldiers, Ynet reported.

“Go out into the streets and burn the ground under the feet of the occupation,” the message urged. “Shame on everyone who carries a gun and will not take it to the field of honor and manhood!”