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Intense fighting in Kalandiya after two IDF soldiers mistakenly enter area

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Serious clashes took place between Israeli forces and Palestinian locals in the West Bank area of Kalandiya, after two IDF soldiers became lost and came under attack.

The two non-combat soldiers belong to the IDF’s canine unit, Oketz and late last night accidently drove into Kalandiya, which is situated between Jerusalem and Ramallah and has been a flashpoint for violence during the past several months. Their vehicle quickly came under attack as locals hurled rocks and Molotov cocktails at them. The two soldiers abandoned their vehicle, which was set on fire and went their separate ways. Both were eventually able to make contact with IDF forces, one while hiding in a residential yard. IDF, Shin Bet and Special Forces entered Kalandiya in numbers and rescued the two soldiers, who were unhurt.

However, the incident sparked wider clashes during the night and into this morning. One Israeli soldier was moderately wounded and nine others hurt in the violence. They were taken to a hospital in Jerusalem. Meanwhile, the Palestinian Ma’an news agency reported that 22-year-old Iyad Amr Sajdiyeh was killed in the fighting, with several other Palestinians injured. Israel Radio news suggests that Sajdiyeh was armed at the time he was shot.

Israeli authorities said that they are investigating how the two soldiers ended up in Kalandiya, with initial reports suggesting that the navigation app Waze had taken them through the area.

Kalandiya has seen several incidents of violence since the current wave of near-daily attacks on Israelis began in October, killing at least 31 Israelis until now. In November, two armed Palestinians were killed in clashes at Kalandiya, after IDF forces moved in to destroy the home of a terrorist who had shot and killed an Israeli student nearby.