At Least Six Killed as Israeli Raids in West Bank Continue, Reports Reuters

By Ali Sawafta

TUBAS, West Bank (Reuters) – On Wednesday, Israeli forces reported the deaths of at least six Palestinians in various incidents across the occupied West Bank, as they press on with an extensive operation targeting militant groups in the area.

An airstrike in Tubas resulted in the deaths of five men, whom the military claimed were armed with explosives that posed a threat to their forces. The operation also involved the destruction of weapons production facilities and a vehicle rigged with explosives.

The Palestinian Red Crescent indicated that rescue teams had recovered the bodies of five individuals from the site and transported them to a hospital.

In another incident in Tulkarm, Israeli forces, supported by police and intelligence agents, reportedly killed an armed militant.

There was no immediate confirmation from any Palestinian militant factions regarding the identities of those killed in the operations.

Access to Tubas has been restricted, with Israeli military vehicles, including armored personnel carriers and road diggers, observed moving throughout the city near the Jordanian border at the northern end of the West Bank.

During these operations, the military reported a ramming attack east of Ramallah, where a fuel tanker driver allegedly accelerated toward Israeli soldiers before being shot. According to the military, one Israeli soldier was killed in this incident.

For the past two weeks, Israeli forces have intensified operations in northern West Bank cities, including Tubas, Jenin, and Tulkarm, which have significant armed group presence, including Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and Fatah.

Clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinian fighters have been frequent, resulting in extensive destruction of infrastructure and homes in the affected cities due to military actions.

Residents of the Tulkarm refugee camp, where two Palestinians were killed during a raid the previous day, have reported being forced to flee their homes as a result of the destruction. One resident recounted the destruction caused by bulldozers, which buried neighboring houses under rubble.

The violence in the West Bank has escalated significantly since the onset of the conflict in Gaza, which began after the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7 of the previous year. The ongoing operations have led to thousands of arrests and numerous armed confrontations between Israeli security forces and Palestinian fighters.

According to Palestinian health authorities, over 680 Palestinians have lost their lives in the West Bank since the conflict began, with a toll that includes both militants and unarmed civilians. In the same timeframe, about 40 Israeli soldiers and civilians have died due to attacks by Palestinians or clashes with militants, as reported by Israel’s domestic security agency.