Israeli Forces Kill Eight Palestinians in West Bank during Fragile Ceasefire
Israeli forces operating in the occupied West Bank have killed at least eight Palestinians, including one militant, in a 24-hour period, according to Palestinian health officials. This surge in violence comes as a fragile pause in fighting between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip enters its third day.
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The escalation of violence in the West Bank follows the attack by Hamas on Israel on October 7, which sparked a devastating war in Gaza. Israeli forces have since killed dozens of Palestinians and arrested hundreds in the West Bank, while Jewish settlers have also increased their attacks.
The Palestinian Health Ministry reported that five Palestinians were killed in the militant stronghold of Jenin, while three others were killed in separate areas of the West Bank. Among those killed was a teenager in al-Bireh.
The Israeli military stated that it killed five Palestinians in a gunbattle during its operation in the Jenin refugee camp. The military claimed that those killed were militants, and that the operation was in response to a Palestinian suspected of killing an Israeli father and son earlier in the year.
The military also stated that it was investigating the reports of the other incidents.
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In the refugee camp, there were signs of destruction, with debris scattered on the streets and a house with a large hole in the wall. Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that Israeli snipers were positioned on rooftops and military bulldozers were damaging roads and infrastructure. The Israeli military stated that it was using engineering equipment to uncover explosive devices buried under roads.
The intensified violence in the West Bank follows a year of escalating raids and arrests, as well as deadly Palestinian attacks on Israelis. Prior to the Hamas assault, 2023 was already the deadliest year for Palestinians in the West Bank in over two decades.
The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has allowed for aid to enter Gaza and the release of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. The Israeli offensive in Gaza has resulted in over 13,300 Palestinian deaths, according to the Hamas-run Gaza government. Additionally, vast areas of the Gaza Strip have been destroyed and 1.7 million Palestinians have been displaced.
Israel captured the West Bank, along with the Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem, in the 1967 Mideast war. The Palestinians seek these territories as part of their hoped-for independent state.
