Seven Palestinians, two Israelis killed in West Bank

On Sunday, nine individuals perished in the disputed West Bank area, with seven of them, Palestinians, falling victim to an Israeli military air assault, report insiders from both groupings. The conflicts in the West Bank, commencing with the inception of the clash between Israel and the Hamas militants from Gaza, have escalated to heights unseen in almost 20 years. Israeli troops regularly conduct incursions into the contentious territory, notably the rebel stronghold of Jenin and the nearby refugee settlement.

The Palestinian Authority's Ministry of Health, headquartered in Ramallah, reported that, "An Israeli occupation bombardment on a group of civilians took seven lives in Jenin." On the other hand, the Army stated, "An aircraft eliminated six terrorists who were throwing explosive gadgets" at soldiers during an action in the Jenin refugee settlement. The authorities cited the death of an Israeli police officer during an operation at the refugee camp, with the officer having been in a service vehicle hit by an explosive contraption, causing injuries to three other officers.

In a separate occurrence north of Ramallah, an Israeli civilian was gunned down, reports the Army. They added that the civilian was "killed near the British police junction" north of Ramallah, and authorities are in the process of locating the assailant.

Wafa, the official Palestinian news agency, disclosed early on Sunday that a considerable mission of Israeli forces was ongoing in Jenin. It reported that an "Israeli drone assault" in Jenin eliminated six Palestinians, including four siblings, while another individual succumbed to injuries later.

A local of Jenin, Suleiman Moussa, said gunfire preceded the "air assault". Recalling the grisly scene, Mr. Moussa said, "Individuals were strewn on the ground, some bodies dismembered, others beheaded... it was beyond belief." He also mentioned an ambulance arriving to transport six victims and another critically injured person. Video footage revealed locals evaluating blood spots and shattered glass near the camp site. The local community also attended the funeral of the four slain brothers.

Israeli Army incursions in the Jenin area often lead to shootouts between the soldiers and Palestinian rebels. Although the Army claims its operations are aimed at "terrorists", the Palestinian health department states many non-combatants are amongst the casualties. Israel has occupied the West Bank since its 1967 war with Arab nations, which is now home to approximately three million Palestinians and 490,000 Israelis, residing in settlements deemed unlawful by international rules yet acknowledged by Israel.

Dating from the commencement of the Israel-Hamas conflict on October 7, the Palestinian Health Ministry reports at least 328 West Bank residents killed by soldiers or Israeli settlers, and over 520 Palestinians killed in the West Bank during 2023. Meanwhile, Palestinian rebel attacks on Israel and the West Bank have resulted in a minimum of 41 deaths during the same year, per the Shin Bet security agency. The Hamas October 7 strike on Israel led to around 1,140 civilian deaths in Israel, based on an AFP count using official Israeli data. Consequently, Israel has undertaken ceaseless air assault and ground invasions, resulting in a minimum of 22,835 deaths in Gaza, with the majority being women and children, according to the territory's Hamas-managed Health Ministry.