AL-FARAA REFUGEE CAMP, West Bank — Israeli forces have initiated a significant military operation in the West Bank, resulting in the deaths of at least 10 Hamas militants. The operation, which began overnight and extended into Wednesday, targeted several areas including the city of Jenin, Tulkarem, and the Al-Faraa refugee camp.
Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani, an Israeli military spokesman, described the operation as one of the largest in recent months. Israeli forces carried out airstrikes that killed three militants in Tulkarem and four in Al-Faraa. Additionally, five suspected militants were arrested. Shoshani indicated that this operation is the first phase of a larger campaign.
Palestinian officials reported that four Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire in Jenin. Hamas confirmed that 10 of its fighters were killed, including three in Jenin. The identity of the fourth individual in Jenin remains unclear, but the Israeli military asserts that all those killed were militants.
The governor of Jenin, Kamal Abu al-Rub, stated that Israeli forces had surrounded the city, blocking all entry and exit points and restricting access to hospitals. The Palestinian Health Ministry reported that roads to medical facilities in Jenin were obstructed with dirt barriers.
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz compared the operation in the West Bank to the measures taken in Gaza and called for similar actions in the West Bank. Katz emphasized the need to address what he termed as terrorist infrastructure, suggesting the potential temporary evacuation of Palestinian residents.
Hamas has called for a Palestinian uprising, accusing the raids of being part of a broader strategy to expand the conflict beyond Gaza. The militant group also criticized U.S. support for Israel and urged security forces loyal to the Palestinian Authority to join the fight.
Nabil Abu Rudeineh, a spokesperson for Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, condemned the raids as a severe escalation and called for international intervention. Abbas announced he was cutting short his visit to Saudi Arabia to return to the West Bank.
Since the beginning of the Gaza conflict over 10 months ago, at least 652 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in the West Bank, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. Most fatalities occurred during raids that often result in gunbattles with militants.
The conflict erupted after Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel on October 7, killing around 1,200 people and abducting approximately 250. Israel’s response has resulted in over 40,000 Palestinian deaths, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
Recent Israeli strikes in Gaza have killed at least 24 people, including five women and five children, according to Palestinian health officials. Negotiations for a cease-fire continue, with no significant breakthroughs reported.
