Palestinian health officials confirmed at least 11 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in a “counterterrorism operation” in the north of the occupied West Bank
Israel has launched a major West Bank offensive killing at least 11 Palestinians after carrying out a “counterterrorism operation.”
In response, Hamas has called for general mobilisation and “escalation of resistance in all forms” in a public statement. Israel has carried out near-daily raids across the West Bank since Hamas’ October 7 attack out of Gaza triggered the ongoing war there. Palestinian militant groups said they were exchanging fire with the Israeli military.
The governor of Jenin, Kamal Abu al-Rub, said on Palestinian radio that Israeli forces had surrounded the city, blocking exit and entry points and access to hospitals, and ripping up infrastructure in the camp. The Palestinian Health Ministry in the West Bank revealed Israeli forces had blocked the roads leading to a hospital with dirt barriers and surrounded other medical facilities in Jenin. The Israeli military confirmed it was operating in the cities of Jenin and Tulkarem but did not provide further details.
Hamas has demanded an “escalation of resistance in all forms” following the offensive. It said: “We, in the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), direct the call for resistance, struggle and combat to the masses of our people, our heroic resistance fighters, and our revolutionary youth in all areas of the occupied West Bank from north to south, for a general mobilisation, and to escalate all forms of resistance and confront the occupation and its settlers everywhere in our occupied land.”
Hamas has demanded an “escalation of resistance in all forms” following the offensive ( Image: AFP via Getty Images)
At least 652 Palestinians in the West Bank have been killed by Israeli fire since the war in Gaza began over 10 months ago, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry, reports the Mirror. Most have died during such raids, which often trigger gunbattles with militants. Israel says the operations are required to dismantle Hamas and other militant groups and to prevent attacks on Israelis, which have also risen since the start of the war.
An Israeli soldier operates during a raid in the Nur Shams camp for Palestinian refugees near the city of Tulkarem in the Israeli-occupied West Bank ( Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz drew comparisons with Gaza and called for similar measures in the West Bank. “We must deal with the threat just as we deal with the terrorist infrastructure in Gaza, including the temporary evacuation of Palestinian residents and whatever steps might be required. This is a war in every respect, and we must win it,” he wrote on the platform X.
Hamas called on Palestinians in the West Bank to rise up, saying the raids are part of a larger plan to expand the war in Gaza and blaming the escalation on U.S. support for Israel. The militant group called on security forces loyal to the Western-backed Palestinian Authority, which cooperate with Israel, to “join the sacred battle of our people.”
A view of damaged houses and buildings in Nur Shams Refugee Camp following the Israeli airstrike ( Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)