Israeli airstrikes in the occupied West Bank resulted in the deaths of nine individuals on Wednesday, according to reports from medics. The Israeli military stated that at least five of the deceased were suspected terrorists who were planning an imminent attack.
The surge in violence in the West Bank coincided with the Gaza conflict that began on October 7. The Gaza conflict started with an unexpected cross-border killing and kidnapping spree by Islamist Hamas militants in southern Israel.
One of the airstrikes targeted a car in Balata, near the northern West Bank city of Nablus. It killed five members of a local militant group that had reportedly been planning a large-scale attack on Israelis. The military identified the leader of the group, Abdullah Abu Shalal, among the deceased. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah faction claimed that five of its members were in the car, including Abu Shalal.
Later in the day, another airstrike in the central West Bank city of Tulkarm resulted in the deaths of four Palestinians, as reported by medics. The military spokesperson confirmed that an operation was ongoing in Tulkarm but did not provide immediate details.
The West Bank had been experiencing a worsening of deadly violence even before the October 7 Hamas assault on Israel from Gaza. This assault prompted a comprehensive Israeli military offensive in Gaza aimed at dismantling the enclave’s ruling group.
Over the three months following the Gaza conflict, Israeli forces have reportedly killed at least 360 Palestinians in the West Bank, according to a statement by the Palestinian health ministry on Wednesday.
