11 dead and more than 60 wounded in latest Israeli raid in West Bank
Israeli forces killed 11 Palestinians, including at least four gunmen and four civilians, and wounded more than 100 people in a Wednesday attack on Nablus, a city in the occupied West Bank, witnesses, militant groups and medical officials said.
The Israeli military confirmed it was conducting an operation in Nablus and said its troops fired back after coming under fire as they attempted to detain militants suspected of planning impending attacks. There were no Israeli casualties, the army said in a statement.
Body of one of the Palestinians previously killed by Israeli forces in Shechem (Nablus). BBC refers to them as “militants”. But this person👇 is a member of the lions’ den responsible for numerous attacks on Israelis. Others were members of the PIJ and Fatah. pic.twitter.com/AuaVLmT3lb
— James J Marlow (@James_J_Marlow) February 22, 2023
Nablus operation
The Palestinian Islamic Jihad militant faction said Israeli forces surrounded two of their Nablus commanders in a house, sparking a clash that drew more gunmen. Explosions rang out and youths threw stones at armored personnel carriers.
Palestinian sources said the two Islamic Jihad commanders were killed along with another gunman. Four civilians were among those killed, including a 72-year-old man and a 14-year-old boy.
The Palestinian Health Ministry said a 66-year-old man who suffered from gas inhalation during the raid died in hospital later Wednesday. Medics said more than 100 Palestinians were injured.
Israeli raids
Nablus and nearby Jenin have been the focus of crackdowns Israel has intensified over the past year after a spate of deadly Palestinians street attacksin which ten Israelis and a Ukrainian tourist were killed.
62 Palestinians, including gunmen and civilians, were killed in 2023, the Palestinian Health Ministry said.
effect and counteraction
Hamas, another Palestinian militant group that sometimes fights alongside Islamic Jihad, said four gunmen were killed, one from its own ranks, hinting at possible reprisals from Gaza, an area it controls .
Sirens rang out in southern Israeli cities early Thursday morning as the military confirmed six rockets had been fired from Gaza into Israeli territory. Shortly thereafter, explosions were heard in Gaza and the Israeli military confirmed that it had attacked targets in Gaza, but gave no further details.
Hamas and Islamic Jihad are dedicated to destroying Israel.
Source:
Reuters