In a significant escalation, five Palestinians were killed in an Israeli airstrike in the northern occupied West Bank, according to official reports from the Palestinian health authorities. This incident has raised concerns about the ongoing violence in the region.
The Palestinian Red Crescent reported that a drone targeted a group of five young men near a mosque in Tubas during the early hours of Wednesday. Emergency responders transported the deceased individuals to the local government hospital.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that the strike targeted what they described as an “armed terrorist cell” amid ongoing counter-terrorism efforts in Tubas and the nearby town of Tamun.
An IDF spokesperson confirmed that a curfew was imposed in Tubas as part of the ongoing military operation in the area.
The local hospital is currently under tight security, with access strictly controlled by military personnel, according to government sources.
Reports indicate that Israeli forces are conducting extensive raids on the outskirts of Tubas and several surrounding neighborhoods, continuing the heightened military presence.
Furthermore, military operations are reportedly ongoing in Tulkarm and neighboring refugee camps for a second consecutive day.
The Palestinian health ministry also reported incidents of violence earlier in the week where a Palestinian man and woman were killed by Israeli fire in Tulkarm, with no immediate comment from the IDF.
These developments come shortly after one of the largest Israeli military operations in the West Bank since the recent surge of violence that followed Hamas’s attacks on October 7.
The health ministry indicated that at least 36 Palestinians had lost their lives during the recent nine-day military campaign across Tubas, Tulkarm, and Jenin, with casualties including both members of armed groups and children.
Additionally, one Israeli soldier was reported killed amid the hostilities in Jenin.
On the same day, Israeli paramedics reported that one Israeli man is in critical condition following a ramming attack incident near the settlement of Givat Assaf.
The IDF confirmed that the assailant was “neutralised” on-site, identified by local reports as a Palestinian man from Rafat, located near Ramallah.
This incident follows a tragic shooting event on Sunday, where three Israeli security guards were killed by a Jordanian lorry driver at the Allenby Bridge border crossing.
The West Bank has seen a notable increase in violence since October, with over 690 Palestinians reportedly killed during intensified military operations aimed at curbing attacks.
Israeli officials maintain that these measures are necessary to prevent further attacks on Israelis, a claim supported by reports indicating that 28 Israelis had been killed by September 2, as per UN data.
