Israeli Military Strikes Kill Eight Palestinians in West Bank
Tensions in the occupied West Bank escalated on Wednesday as Israeli military strikes claimed the lives of eight Palestinians, the Palestinian health ministry and Red Crescent reported. The strikes, which took place in the Tubas and Tulkarem areas, are part of a larger "counter-terrorism operation" launched by the Israeli military.
According to eyewitnesses, Israeli forces stormed the city of Tubas and the nearby town of Tamun early on Wednesday, sparking exchanges of fire and an air strike that hit five militants who "posed a threat" to troops. The Palestinian Red Crescent Society reported that five people were killed in the strikes, with the drone fire hitting near a mosque around dawn.
The Israeli military claimed that its forces targeted a terrorist cell consisting of five terrorists armed with explosives who posed a threat to the forces. The military also reported the apprehension of several suspects and the dismantling of a vehicle rigged with explosives.
This is not the first time Israeli forces have targeted the Tubas area. In late August, a large-scale "counter-terrorism" offensive left widespread destruction across the region. An Israeli air strike last week in Tubas also killed five people, Palestinian medics said at the time.
The latest violence comes amid a surge in deadly raids in the West Bank since Hamas’s October 7 attack on southern Israel sparked the war in Gaza. According to the Palestinian health ministry, at least 665 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank by the Israeli military or settlers since October 7. At least 24 Israelis, including security forces, have been killed in Palestinian attacks in the territory during the same period.
Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967, and the recent escalation in violence has raised concerns about the fragile situation on the ground. The international community is closely monitoring the situation and calling for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
