Israeli Forces in West Bank Kill Eight Palestinians, Including One Militant, in 24 Hours

Accident – Death – Obituary News : Israeli forces operating in the occupied West Bank have been reported to have killed at least eight Palestinians, including one militant, within a 24-hour period, according to Palestinian health officials. This surge in violence comes as a fragile pause in fighting between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip enters its third day.

In recent weeks, violence in the West Bank has significantly escalated since Hamas launched an attack on Israel on October 7, triggering a devastating war in the Gaza Strip. Israeli forces have killed numerous Palestinians and detained hundreds in the West Bank, while Jewish settlers in the area have also increased their attacks.

The Palestinian Health Ministry has confirmed that five Palestinians were killed in the militant stronghold of Jenin, with three others killed in separate areas of the West Bank since Saturday morning. Among those killed was a teenager in al-Bireh, located in the central West Bank.

The Israeli military has stated that it killed five Palestinians during a gunbattle in the Jenin refugee camp. The operation was aimed at arresting a Palestinian suspected of murdering an Israeli father and son at a West Bank car wash earlier this year. The military has identified the deceased as militants, with the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group claiming one of the individuals, Asaad al-Damj, 33, as a member. The remaining casualties have not been immediately linked to any militant groups. The military has stated that it provided air support during the operation, targeting and injuring armed Palestinians, although further details were not provided. Reports of other incidents are currently being investigated by the military.

In the aftermath of the operation, debris was scattered throughout the densely populated urban neighborhood of the refugee camp, and one house had a significant hole in its wall. The official Palestinian news agency Wafa has reported that Israeli snipers were positioned on rooftops, and military bulldozers were damaging roads and infrastructure. Independent verification of these reports is currently not available. The Israeli military has stated that it is using “engineering equipment” to locate explosive devices buried under roads.

In response to the Hamas assault, Israel has implemented strict measures in the West Bank, including the closure of crossings and checkpoints between Palestinian towns, in an effort to apprehend militants.

The recent escalation of violence in the West Bank follows over a year of increasing raids, arrests, and deadly Palestinian attacks on Israelis. Even prior to the Hamas assault, 2023 had already been the deadliest year for Palestinians in the West Bank in more than two decades.

Israel and Hamas have temporarily ceased fire to allow for the entry of aid into Gaza and facilitate the release of hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. The Israeli offensive has resulted in the deaths of over 13,300 Palestinians, according to the Health Ministry in the Hamas-run Gaza government, which does not differentiate between civilians and combatants. Large areas of the Gaza Strip have been destroyed, leading to the displacement of approximately 1.7 million Palestinians.

In a surprise attack last month, Hamas and other Gaza militants killed around 1,200 people in Israel and took approximately 240 hostages. Since Israel commenced its ground invasion into Gaza shortly after the attack, several dozen soldiers have been killed.

Israel gained control of the West Bank, along with the Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem, during the 1967 Mideast war. The Palestinians consider these territories as part of their envisioned independent state..