CBNNews.com - JENIN - In a joint counter-terror operation Monday evening, a senior Islamic Jihad commander was killed attempting to evade arrest.

Jihad Nawhda, 23, from the Arab village of al-Yamon in northern Samaria, died from his injuries en route to the hospital following a firefight with Israel Defense Forces (IDF) troops.

Israeli defense officials said Nawhda was planning to carry out a terror attack within days.

In 2008, the Palestinian Authority (PA) arrested Nawhda, releasing him after his arrest fanned tensions with Islamic Jihad.

Immediately upon his release, Nawhda resumed his terror activities, serving as commander of the al-Quds Brigades in Jenin and as one of the group's senior commanders in the northern West Bank.

Nawhda was on Israel's most wanted list.

Islamic Jihad threatened not to renew the temporary cease-fire with Israel, which expires Friday, if the IDF continues to target its commanders in Judea and Samaria.

Sources: The Jerusalem Post, YNet news