8-2-2024 (RAMALLAH) Israeli forces killed three Palestinians during a raid on a refugee camp in the occupied West Bank on Wednesday, according to officials. The incident occurred as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized the importance of de-escalating tensions during his visit to the region.
The Israeli military stated that they killed a wanted suspect after exchanging fire while surrounding the house he was in. Additionally, two armed fighters who attempted to escape the premises were also killed during the operation, which lasted four hours and utilized various methods. The military confirmed that no soldiers were injured in the incident.
The Palestinian Health Ministry reported that Israeli forces shot dead two men in their thirties in the Nur Shams refugee camp, near the city of Tulkarm in the northern West Bank. At the moment, there is no immediate comment on the third fatality.
Residents of the camp informed Reuters that the two men who were shot were not inside the besieged house, and their bodies were discovered outside. They further mentioned that Israel launched missiles at the house and partially demolished it before withdrawing its forces.
As of now, no militant factions have claimed responsibility for any of the three casualties.
The UN agency for Palestinians has registered approximately 13,519 Palestinian refugees in the Nur Shams camp, many of whom aspire to return to the homes from which they or their ancestors fled or were expelled during the 1948 war that took place after the establishment of Israel. The surge in violence in the West Bank has been ongoing for over a year, primarily due to Israeli military raids and settler attacks. According to the United Nations, 507 Palestinians were killed in the West Bank in 2023, marking the highest number recorded since 2005.
While Israel continues its relentless bombing and ground invasion of Gaza following an October 7 attack led by Hamas on its southern communities, more than 360 Palestinians have been killed by soldiers operating in the West Bank, according to UN data.
Last week, Israeli forces, disguised as medics and women, stormed a hospital in the northern West Bank city of Jenin and killed three Palestinian fighters, one of whom was paralyzed and bedridden.
In a statement following his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Blinken emphasized the urgent need to de-escalate tensions in the West Bank and prevent the conflict from spreading.
Israel argues that its military operations are necessary to counter attacks targeting its citizens, while Palestinian leaders claim that Israel’s assaults in Gaza and the West Bank are part of a larger policy aimed at denying Palestinians their right to statehood and self-determination.
