West Bank aggression intensifies: 17 Palestinians killed by Israeli Occupation

For the third consecutive day, Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) have intensified their military operations in Jenin and its surrounding areas, resulting in significant casualties and widespread unrest.

Early Friday, an IOF drone targeted and bombed a vehicle in the town of Al-Zababdeh, located south of Jenin. The Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) reported that IOF soldiers prevented their ambulances from accessing the bombing site.

The IOF claimed responsibility for the strike, stating that an aircraft targeted an armed group during clashes with IOF soldiers in Jenin. In their statement, the IOF noted, "An aircraft bombed an armed cell during an exchange of fire with security forces in the Jenin area."

In a separate incident within the town of Al-Zababdeh, an undercover “Israeli” unit trained to infiltrate Palestinian and Arab communities by posing as locals, known as Musta'ribeen, surrounded a house belonging to the Abu Al-Nada family and opened heavy fire on it.

The IOF later reinforced their presence around the besieged home with additional military units.

In the eastern neighborhood of Jenin, the IOF conducted extensive searches, harassment, and detentions of residents.

According to local sources, the forces raided several homes near the Khalid Ibn Al-Walid Mosque, subjected residents to field interrogations, and made multiple arrests.

Furthermore, clashes broke out when IOF stormed the Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus in the West Bank.

Supported by a military bulldozer, the IOF arrested five Palestinians during the raid.

The raid was met with fierce resistance, with live gunfire, toxic gas, and stun grenades used, leading to intense confrontations within the camp.

Palestinian medical sources reported that the ongoing IOF aggression resulted in the martyrdom of 17 Palestinians, including 8 in Jenin, 5 in Tulkarm, and 4 in Tubas, with over 30 others injured as of Thursday evening.

This brings the total number of Palestinian martyrs in the West Bank since October 7 to 669 as of Thursday evening.