Israeli Strike Hits Compound Beneath Mosque in West Bank, Killing at Least One
RAMALLAH, West Bank – Israeli military aircraft launched an air strike on a compound beneath a mosque in the occupied West Bank early on Sunday. The strike targeted militants who were allegedly using the compound to organize attacks. Palestinian medics reported that at least one person was killed in the attack.
This is the second strike on the West Bank in recent days as violence has escalated since the deadly rampage carried out by Hamas gunmen from Gaza on October 7 in Israel.
The targeted compound, located beneath al-Ansar Mosque in Jenin refugee camp, was claimed by Israel to be owned by operatives from Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. These groups were allegedly responsible for several attacks in recent months.
In a statement, the Israeli military said, “Intel was recently received which indicated that the terrorists, who have been neutralized, were organizing an imminent terror attack.”
The military released images showing an entrance to a bunker beneath the mosque, along with a diagram highlighting the storage of weapons by the militants.
Jenin refugee camp, known as a Palestinian militant stronghold, was the focus of a major Israeli military operation earlier this year.
Footage circulating on social media captured the aftermath of the air strike, revealing a large hole in one of the mosque’s exterior walls. Palestinians can be seen assessing the damage, while ambulance sirens blared in the background.
The Palestinian Red Crescent ambulance service reported at least one Palestinian killed and three others injured. Initially, they had reported two fatalities.
Camp residents claim that they received warnings from the Israeli military to stay away from the militants due to an upcoming incursion into the camp. However, no specific date was mentioned.
Since the Hamas rampage on October 7, which prompted two weeks of intense Israeli bombardment of Gaza, Palestinian officials have reported that 84 Palestinians in the West Bank have been killed in clashes with Israeli forces.
Just last Thursday, the Israeli military conducted a raid and air strike in a refugee camp near the central city of Tulkarm. The operation aimed to apprehend suspects and confiscate weapons, resulting in at least 12 reported Palestinian fatalities.
Reporting by Ali Sawafta and Rami Ayyub; Editing by Daniel Wallis and Chizu Nomiyama