Israel has escalated military operations to counter increasing Palestinian militant attacks, including recent shootings targeting Israeli civilians and soldiers.
On Wednesday, an Israeli airstrike in the northern West Bank killed at least ten people, according to Palestinian health officials. The Israeli military stated that the airstrike targeted a Palestinian militant group based on intelligence reports.
Residents of Tamoun reported that the airstrike struck a house in a densely populated neighborhood. The Palestinian Health Ministry warned that the number of casualties could rise.
Jenin Raid Sparks Further Violence
Palestinians argue that Israel’s ongoing military operations, including a major raid in the Jenin refugee camp, fuel resentment and increase violence. The Jenin raid has resulted in at least 18 Palestinian deaths so far.
Hamas mourned the men killed in Tamoun but did not claim them as members. The group urged Palestinians across Israel and the West Bank to resist Israeli actions and make Israel “pay for its crimes.”
Israel’s defense minister signaled that the military will maintain its presence in Jenin for the foreseeable future. Israel Katz vowed that the refugee camp, long associated with Palestinian militancy, “will not return to what it was.”
Continued Clashes and Rising Death Toll
Israeli forces have killed 18 alleged Palestinian militants during the nine-day Jenin operation. Soldiers and armored bulldozers have destroyed numerous buildings, causing extensive damage in the area.
Palestinian health authorities estimate that Israeli fire has killed around 20 people since the raid began, including a two-year-old girl. The Israeli military has pledged to investigate her death.
Two more Palestinians died from Israeli fire in the West Bank between Tuesday night and Wednesday. A 23-year-old man was fatally shot in Tulkarem, while a 25-year-old man died in an Israeli strike on Jenin.
The Palestinian Health Ministry does not specify whether those killed were civilians or combatants in its reports. The situation in the West Bank remains tense as Israeli operations continue.
