At least eight Palestinians, including one militant, were killed by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank, according to Palestinian health officials. This comes as a fragile pause in fighting between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip enters its third day.
Violence in the West Bank has surged since Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, sparking a devastating war in Gaza. Israeli forces have killed dozens of Palestinians and made hundreds of arrests in the West Bank, while Jewish settlers in the area have also increased their attacks.
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The Palestinian Health Ministry reported that five Palestinians were killed in the militant stronghold of Jenin, while three others were killed in other parts of the West Bank since Saturday morning. One of those killed in al-Bireh in the central West Bank was a teenager.
The Israeli military said it killed five Palestinians in a gun battle during an operation in the Jenin refugee camp, where they were arresting a Palestinian suspected of killing an Israeli father and son at a West Bank car wash earlier this year. The military stated that those killed were militants, with one being identified as a member of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group.
The military also said it was investigating the reports of the other incidents. The official Palestinian news agency Wafa claimed that Israeli snipers were positioned on roofs, while military bulldozers were damaging roads and infrastructure. However, these reports have not been independently verified.
In its pursuit of militants, Israel has tightened its control over the West Bank, closing crossings and checkpoints between Palestinian towns. The territory has witnessed escalating raids, arrests, and deadly attacks on Israelis in recent years.
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The pause in fighting between Israel and Hamas is aimed at allowing aid to enter Gaza and facilitating the release of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. The Israeli offensive has caused immense devastation in Gaza, with thousands of Palestinians killed and millions displaced from their homes.
Israel captured the West Bank, along with the Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem, in the 1967 Mideast war. The Palestinians view these territories as part of their future independent state.
