Israeli forces launch major raid in West Bank, killing three to five Hamas militants
Israeli security forces have launched a major raid in the city of Jenin, resulting in the destruction of roads and the killing of between three and five Hamas militants. The overnight raid, which lasted about eight hours, began late on Thursday night, and has further heightened tensions in the occupied West Bank.
Hamas has claimed that three of its fighters died in the raid, while Israeli military officials have stated that their forces killed at least five militants. The raid comes in the wake of increased violence across the West Bank following Hamas attacks on southern Israel last month, which prompted a massive Israeli military offensive into Gaza.
The mounting death toll in the West Bank has raised concerns about the potential for further escalation and loss of control in the territory seized by Israel in the 1967 war. The al-Quds Brigades, Hamas’s armed wing in Jenin, released a statement saying they engaged Israeli forces for several hours during the raid, using a “torrent of fire” and laying ambushes with explosives.
An Israeli military spokesperson confirmed that an armed “terrorist cell” that fired at Israeli security forces was struck by an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) aircraft. The spokesperson added that additional terrorists who fired and hurled explosive devices at the security forces were neutralized.
Following the raid, some Hamas militants reportedly fled in vehicles and ambulances towards Jenin’s Ibn Sina hospital. Israeli troops intercepted one of the vehicles at the hospital entrance, uncovering M-16 rifles and ammunition inside. Palestinian health officials have accused Israeli forces of detaining and searching ambulance crews during the raid.
Last week, Israeli forces engaged in a prolonged battle with gunmen in Jenin, resulting in the death of 14 people in one of the heaviest clashes in the occupied West Bank for months. Since the October Hamas attacks on Israel, at least 191 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank, with as many as 2,000 detained amid a strict clampdown. Israeli officials claim the arrests have thwarted several significant attacks.
The conflict between Israel and Hamas has also resulted in numerous casualties in Gaza, with Hamas’s attacks killing 1,200, mostly civilians, and more than 240 taken hostage. Gaza health authorities report that at least 11,500 people have been confirmed killed in the Israeli bombardment and ground invasion – including over 4,700 children.
A senior Israeli military officer has stated that the West Bank is a “broad front” where the Israeli army is deploying significant forces against Hamas and will not hesitate to intensify its efforts if necessary. Additionally, Israeli security forces shot dead an attacker near Hebron after he opened fire on soldiers on Friday morning, and an Israeli soldier was killed at a checkpoint on the West Bank’s route 60 on Thursday.
Israel’s National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, has called for dealing with Hamas in the West Bank “exactly like we are dealing with Gaza.” He also suggested that the Palestinian Authority, which he believes has similar views to Hamas and identifies with its actions, should be dealt with in the same way.