During a Wednesday raid on a flashpoint city in the occupied West Bank, Israeli troops murdered 11 Palestinians, including at least four gunmen and four civilians. They wounded over 100 others, according to witnesses, militant groups, and medical personnel.
The Israeli military acknowledged the operation near Nablus, stating that troops fired in response to incoming fire while attempting to apprehend militants suspected of organizing impending assaults. There were no Israeli injuries, an army spokesman claimed.
Islamic Jihad, a Palestinian militant group, reported that Israeli troops had surrounded two of its Nablus commanders in a house, sparking a gunbattle that attracted additional gunmen. Local kids assaulted armoured army transporters with rocks as explosions occurred.
According to Palestinian sources, two Islamic Jihad commanders and another gunman were slain. At least four civilians were also killed, including a 72-year-old man and a 14-year-old boy. According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, a 66-year-old man inhaled gas during the operation and passed away in the hospital Wednesday evening. According to medical personnel, more than 100 Palestinians were injured.
Israel has boosted its raids in Nablus and neighbouring Jenin over the past year in response to a spate of deadly Palestinian street attacks in its towns.
According to the Palestinian health ministry, 62 Palestinians, including gunmen and civilians, were killed in 2023. According to Israel's foreign ministry, ten Israelis and one Ukrainian tourist were killed in Palestinian attacks during the same period.
"We condemn the occupation's raid into Nablus, and we call for an end to the continued attacks against our people," said Nabil Abu Rudeineh, spokesperson for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
Hamas, another Palestinian militant organization that occasionally fights alongside Islamic Jihad, reported the deaths of four militants, including one from its ranks, and hinted at possible retaliation from the Gaza Strip, which it controls.
Abu Ubaida, the spokesman for the armed wing of Hamas, said on Telegram, "The resistance in Gaza is monitoring the escalating crimes conducted by the enemy against our people in the occupied West Bank and is running out of patience,"
Hamas and Islamic Jihad are committed to Israel's destruction but have previously respected truces mediated by Egypt.
U.S.-sponsored Palestinian statehood talks have been stuck for almost a decade.
