Israel continues West bank raid
On Saturday, Israel continued its large-scale military operation in the occupied West Bank for the fourth consecutive day, while intense combat continued in the nearly 11-month-long Gaza war.
In the northern city of Jenin, clashes and explosions were ongoing. The Israeli military reported that two Palestinians were killed overnight in the southern West Bank as they were allegedly preparing to carry out bombings.
The militant group Hamas, which initiated the Gaza conflict with its October 7 assault on Israel, praised what it termed a “heroic operation” amid the Israeli actions in the north. Islamic Jihad, a Hamas ally with a significant presence in the northern West Bank, also commended the “coordinated attack.”
The Israeli military described a vehicle explosion at a petrol station in the Gush Etzion settlement bloc as an attempted car bombing by a terrorist who was subsequently killed. An army officer was moderately injured, and a reservist officer sustained minor injuries.
In another incident, the head of security at the Israeli settlement of Karmei Zur pursued a “terrorist” who had entered the settlement, leading to a collision and the terrorist being neutralized. An explosive device in the terrorist’s vehicle detonated during the confrontation.
Since Wednesday, the Israeli military has killed at least 20 Palestinians, primarily militants, in coordinated raids across northern West Bank cities. The focus of operations has been on Jenin and its refugee camps, which are strongholds of Palestinian armed groups.
On Saturday morning, AFP reported ongoing clashes in Jenin, with the city largely deserted except for armored vehicles. The director of the local hospital, Wisam Bakr, described it as the worst day of the raid, noting disruptions to water and electricity.
The violence in the West Bank has escalated since Hamas’s October 7 attack. The UN reported that Israeli actions have resulted in at least 637 Palestinian deaths in the West Bank since the Gaza war began. In contrast, Israeli officials reported 19 Israeli fatalities during the same period.
Hamas and Islamic Jihad claimed that at least 13 of the 20 Palestinians killed since Wednesday were members of their armed wings. The casualties included an 82-year-old man and two teenagers, with an additional 55 Palestinians reported wounded.
In Gaza, Israel’s offensive in response to the October 7 attack has continued. Gaza’s civil defense reported that 29 bodies were recovered from rubble, and numerous wounded individuals were transported to hospitals. Recent Israeli strikes have caused further casualties in Khan Yunis and the Jabalia refugee camp.
Britain, France, and Spain have voiced concerns about the West Bank operation, with Spain condemning the violence as unacceptable. The World Health Organization announced that Israel had agreed to three days of humanitarian pauses in Gaza, starting Sunday, to support a polio vaccination campaign. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu clarified that these pauses should not be considered a ceasefire.
The October 7 attack by Hamas resulted in the deaths of 1,199 people, mostly civilians. Palestinian militants also took 251 hostages, with 103 still held captive in Gaza. In response, Israel’s military campaign has caused at least 40,602 deaths in Gaza, according to the territory’s health ministry, with most victims being women and children. The ongoing conflict has displaced the majority of Gaza’s 2.4 million residents and created a severe humanitarian crisis.
