A top Hamas commander was eliminated by Israeli troops in the tense city of Jenin on Friday, as the Israeli military intensified a significant operation in the occupied West Bank, now into its third day. The Israeli military reported that the late Wassem Hazem, who was the figurehead of Hamas in Jenin, partook in several shooting and bombing assaults in Palestinian territory.
In this event, two other Hamas fighters attempting to flee the vehicle they were in were taken out by a drone, as reported by the military. Alongside this, it was discovered that the vehicle was carrying an arsenal of weaponry, explosives and a substantial amount of money. Hamas has yet to respond to the incident.
Reports from the village Zababdeh, on the outskirts of Jenin, tell of a vehicle, riddled with bullet holes and burnt to a crisp, which had crashed into a wall following a chase by the Israeli special forces. Saif Ghannam, a local resident, recounted the aftermath – one of the other two men who had fled was killed near his home by a small drone attack, and the other not too far away. He alleges that while Israeli forces cleared the bodies, there were still large pools of blood marking the spot where the men were reportedly killed.
This incident took place amidst an all-encompassing operation organised by the Israelis, involving a substantial deployment of troops and police that began early Wednesday morning. They targeted Jenin and Tulkarm, another restless West Bank city, as well as the region of Jordan Valley.
Armoured Israeli carriers, in conjunction with helicopters and drones, advanced into Jenin and Tulkarm this Friday. Simultaneously, armoured bulldozers cleared the roads by eliminating any explosives that militants had set up.
The rise in aggression in the West Bank comes as nearly 11 months of fighting between the Israeli forces and Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip persist. The situation continues to escalate, with increased hostilities with Iranian-supported Hezbollah along the Israel-Lebanon border.
Over the course of the first two days of the operation, at least 17 Palestinians have lost their lives, including a local commander of the Iranian-sponsored Islamic Jihad forces stationed in Tulkarm. Since the Hamas assault on Israel last October — an event that ignited the Gaza war — the death toll in the West Bank has risen to over 660 Palestinians. The deceased include both militants and civilians, some fallen to Israeli troops, others to Jewish settlers who have been relentlessly attacking West Bank Palestinian settlements, according to Palestinian sources.
Iran is accused by Israel of supplying militant groups in the West Bank with weapons and assistance. The contested area has been under Israeli control since the 1967 Middle East conflict, and as a result, Israel has intensified its military operations there.
The UK government expressed severe concern about Israel’s actions in the West Bank on Friday, calling for an immediate reduction in tension. The Foreign Office acknowledged Israel’s obligation to protect itself from security threats, however, it expressed significant concern about the strategies employed by Israel. They are particularly distressed by reports of civilian casualties and the demolition of civilian infrastructure, according to a statement. – Reuters
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