On Saturday, an aggressive raid conducted by Israeli troops in the West Bank resulted in the tragic deaths of 14 Palestinians, as reported by Palestinian officials. Furthermore, an ambulance driver was allegedly killed while he was on duty to gather people wounded in a distinct attack led by Jewish settlers.
The West Bank region, specifically the Nur Shams locality near the volatile Palestinian city of Tulkarm, was the scene of an extended Israeli incursion that initiated on Friday early morning, with gunfire exchanges continuing well into Saturday with Palestinian armed combatants.
Israeli military equipment gathered in the region and the sounds of firing firearms were heard intermittently. At least three unmanned drones were evident circling over Nur Shams; this area is home to refugees and their lineage from the 1948 war associated with the establishment of Israel.
The Tulkarm Brigades, which is made up of forces from assorted Palestinian factions, confirmed that its militaries exchanged gunfire with the Israeli troops on Saturday.
The West Bank, a crucial hub of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict since Israel took it over in the 1967 Middle East war, is a uniquely kidney-shaped area that stretches out approximately 100km in length and 50km in width.
Palestinian health officials reported on Saturday that at least 14 Palestinians were fatally shot during the raid, marking it as one of the deadliest incidents in the West Bank in recent months. Two victims have been confirmed by local sources and officials as a gunman and a 16-year-old teenager, while another unidentified male was killed on Friday.
Furthermore, the Israeli military reported the deaths or captures of numerous militants during the raid, stating that at least four soldiers were also wounded in the fire exchange.
In an unrelated event, a 50-year-old ambulance driver was said to have lost his life due to Israeli firing near Al-Sawiya village, located south of Nablus city, whilst on route to transfer casualties from an assault on the village. The perpetrator remains unidentified.
In another episode, widespread protests saw thousands of Israeli citizens on the streets on Saturday, campaigning for renewed elections and demanding increased government efforts to bring back hostages held in Gaza. The protests marked another wave of public dissent against the Prime Minister, Binyamin Netanyahu.
Over the weekend, Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, encouraged Palestinians to unify in the face of Israel’s aggression in Gaza following a prolonged discussion with Hamas leader, Ismail Haniyeh, in Istanbul.
Amidst Qatar’s declaration to reassess its mediation role between Hamas and Israel, Mr Erdogan assigned foreign minister Hakan Fidan to travel to Doha on Wednesday, suggesting an eagerness to step into the role. – Guardian.