Six Palestinians, Israeli officer killed in West Bank

An early morning strike by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank claimed the lives of six Palestinians, while an Israeli police officer lost her life to a roadside bomb that struck her vehicle on Sunday. Sources from both sides confirmed the casualties, marking an escalation in violence not witnessed in the West Bank for nearly two decades.

The Palestinian Authority-run Ministry of Health, based in Ramallah, reported that an Israeli occupation bombardment targeted a group of citizens in Jenin, resulting in the death of six people, including four brothers. Concurrently, the Israeli police force issued a statement confirming the death of an officer during an operation in the Jenin refugee camp, with three others sustaining injuries.

The circumstances surrounding the incidents remain unclear, leaving questions as to whether the six Palestinians and the Israeli officer fell victim to the same operation. Wafa, the official Palestinian news agency, reported a significant deployment of Israeli forces in Jenin, stating that the six Palestinians were killed in an “Israeli drone strike.”

The West Bank has experienced heightened violence since the commencement of Israel’s conflict with Gaza-based Hamas militants. Israeli forces frequently conduct raids in the occupied territory, particularly in the militant stronghold of Jenin and its adjacent refugee camp. These raids often spark gun battles between troops and Palestinian militants.

While the Israeli army asserts its focus on targeting “terrorists” in these operations, the Palestinian health ministry contends that numerous civilians have fallen victim to the violence. The West Bank has been under Israeli occupation since the 1967 war with Arab states.

Since the initiation of the Israel-Hamas war on October 7, at least 327 people in the West Bank have lost their lives, either at the hands of soldiers or Israeli settlers, according to the Palestinian health ministry. The conflict also resulted in around 1,140 deaths in Israel, primarily civilians, based on an AFP tally using official Israeli figures. In response, Israel has conducted a relentless bombardment and ground invasion in Gaza, resulting in the tragic loss of at least 22,722 lives, predominantly women and children, according to the Hamas-run health ministry in the territory. The situation remains tense, with both sides grappling with the devastating toll of ongoing hostilities.