Israeli Drone Strikes Leave Nine Palestinians Dead in Ongoing Army Operation in West Bank
Israeli military operations in the northern occupied West Bank have resulted in the deaths of at least 11 Palestinians since Wednesday, with thousands more trapped inside their homes in the Tulkarem refugee camp as an Israeli army invasion enters its second day.
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Early on Wednesday morning, January 17, Israeli forces conducted raids and drone strikes in the cities of Nablus and Tulkarem. In Nablus, armed confrontations occurred between local armed groups and Israeli forces who raided the Balata refugee camp. A drone strike on a vehicle carrying fighters with the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, the armed wing of the Fatah movement, resulted in the deaths of five Palestinians, including Mohammad al-Qatawi and siblings Saif al-Najmi and Yazan al-Najmi.
In Tulkarem, Israeli forces invaded the city and surrounded its two refugee camps, Nur Shams and Tulkarem. Snipers and troops were positioned around the camps and two hospitals, preventing the entry and exit of civilians. Israeli bulldozers began destroying roads and infrastructure, including the entrances of homes and storefronts. Armed groups within the camps fought back, leading to intense confrontations. Israeli forces carried out an airstrike in the al-Tammam neighborhood, killing four Palestinians, including two children.
Medical personnel and sources reported that Israeli forces prevented ambulances and medical crews from accessing the bombing site, although they eventually managed to transport the deceased and wounded to a local hospital. Residents described Israeli forces shooting indiscriminately at everyone and everything. At least two more Palestinians were killed by live fire, including one who was allegedly “assassinated” in his vehicle. Another Palestinian was reportedly shot by an Israeli sniper and left to bleed for 12 hours before being tied with a rope and dragged along the ground.
The exact number of casualties remains difficult to ascertain due to the Israeli siege on the camps and the prevention of ambulances and medical crews from accessing them. Palestinian ambulances were also targeted and attacked during the invasion, delaying the treatment and evacuation of the wounded. Israeli forces have also engaged in a campaign of destruction, using bulldozers to raze streets and critical infrastructure, which residents are calling “collective punishment.”
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As of now, the Israeli army invasion is still ongoing in Tulkarem, approaching 48 hours, marking one of the largest invasions since the Second Intifada. The Palestinian Ministry of Health reported a death toll of 41 Palestinians in the West Bank since the start of 2024, with 360 Palestinians killed since October 7. Palestinian medics have repeatedly reported being targeted by Israeli forces during military raids and airstrikes.
Sources:
– Mondoweiss
– Palestinian Red Crescent.
