Palestinians: Seven dead in Israeli military operation
According to Palestinian reports, at least seven people were killed in an Israeli military operation in Jenin in the West Bank on Thursday. 13 others were injured, the Palestinian Ministry of Health announced.
The Israeli army announced that a drone had attacked armed residents of the refugee quarter in Jenin during the operation. They had endangered the troops by shooting at the soldiers and throwing explosive devices. The troops used heavy equipment to identify and destroy dozens of hidden explosive devices.
According to the organization, a member of the Palestinian Red Crescent was also injured during the operation. One of their ambulances was attacked and the employee was shot, the Red Crescent said.
Jenin is considered a stronghold of militant Palestinians. There are repeated raids by the Israeli army there.
Increased reports of violence by Israeli settlers
The situation in the West Bank has worsened considerably since the start of the war between Israel and the Islamist Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, on October 7. According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, a total of 165 Palestinians have been killed. There are also increasing reports of violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians.
Since the beginning of the year, 361 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli military operations in the West Bank, confrontations or their own attacks. According to human rights organizations, this is the highest number in more than 15 years.
Israel conquered the West Bank and East Jerusalem in 1967. The Palestinians claim the territories for an independent state with the Arab-dominated eastern part of Jerusalem as its capital.
The persistent conflicts in the Middle East have led to an increase in reports of violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank. The Israeli military operations in Jenin, a stronghold of militant Palestinians, continue to result in casualties, with at least seven deaths and 13 injuries in a recent operation.
Source: www.dpa.com
