The Israeli military has confirmed that a recent strike in the occupied West Bank resulted in the deaths of 10 individuals. The attack, which took place in the Tulkarem area, targeted militants affiliated with Hamas and Islamic Jihad. According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), a total of 12 militants were killed in the operation, marking one of the highest single-day casualty counts in the West Bank since last October.
The IDF stated that the strike was conducted to prevent an imminent attack against Israeli civilians and that the individuals killed were involved in activities related to making explosives or supporting terrorist actions. Among the casualties were Zahi Yaser Abd al-Razeq Oufi, the head of Hamas in Tulkarem, and Jit Radwan, a key operative of Islamic Jihad in the region.
While the Palestinian health ministry initially reported 18 fatalities, the IDF has confirmed 12 deaths. Germany, a key Israeli ally, has expressed concerns over the reported civilian casualties resulting from the strike.
Background on the West Bank
The West Bank is a territory situated between Israel and Jordan, housing approximately 3.3 million Palestinians living under Israeli military occupation. In addition to conflicts with Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, violence has escalated in the West Bank in recent times.
Israel has conducted large-scale operations in the region, including a significant raid in late August that involved the destruction of infrastructure in Tulkarem. Furthermore, there has been a rise in violence against Palestinians by Israeli settlers in the West Bank, whose presence is deemed illegal under international law.
