In a second day of raids in the occupied West Bank, five more Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces, sparking calls for de-escalation from the United Nations. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported that the five individuals were “terrorists who had hidden inside a mosque” in Tulkarm, near the boundary with Israel.
This comes as Israel launched a major counter-terrorism operation in the West Bank on Wednesday, resulting in conflicting death tolls as the operation unfolded across multiple cities. The IDF stated that nine militants had been killed, with five in Jenin and Tulkarm, and four in al-Faraa refugee camp. However, the Palestinian health ministry reported that 12 people had been killed in IDF attacks so far.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has called on Israel to immediately halt its operation, stating that it was “fuelling an already explosive situation.” He urged Israeli forces to exercise restraint and use lethal force only when strictly necessary.
The IDF identified one of the fatalities as Mohammed Jaber, also known as Abu Shujaa, who was reportedly the local leader of the Tulkarem Brigade backed by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad militant group. The IDF stated that Jaber was linked to attacks on Israelis and was planning more.
In Jenin, ambulances are being stopped and checked by military jeeps around the government hospital as security forces continue their operation in the city’s refugee camp. The camp, known for being a base for armed groups and home to unarmed civilians, has been the scene of many fierce gun battles in the past.
Residents, medics, and journalists have been attempting to gather information from the camp, but Israeli forces have blocked access and Palestinian phone networks are down. Despite the limited information, one person inside reported that the situation appears calm at the moment, with the sound of drones overhead.
The ongoing operation in the West Bank is said to be the largest since the days of the second Palestinian intifada, or uprising, two decades ago. Israeli Ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, stated that the goal of the operation is to prevent Iranian terror-by-proxy that could harm Israeli civilians.
The recent spike in violence in the West Bank follows Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7 and the subsequent conflict in Gaza. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell emphasized that Israel’s operation in the West Bank should not lead to an extension of the war from Gaza. Additionally, Borrell announced that he is considering asking EU members to impose sanctions on certain Israeli ministers for their alleged promotion of hate messages against Palestinians and actions against international law.
