Israeli Raid in West Bank Results in Over 15 Deaths Including Militant Commander

Israeli forces conducted their deadliest raid in the West Bank since the Gaza war began, resulting in the deaths of 17 individuals, including a high-ranking militant commander.

At a Glance

Israeli military killed five West Bank militants, including local commander Mohammed Jaber, in a mosque shootout
The raids across the northern West Bank have killed 16 people, nearly all militants, since late Tuesday
UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for an immediate halt to the raids
The operation is part of a broader conflict involving Gaza and the border with Lebanon

Israeli Forces Conduct Deadly West Bank Raid

In a significant military operation, Israeli forces carried out their deadliest raid in the West Bank since the start of the Gaza war. The incursion, which focused on the cities of Tulkarm and Jenin, involved armored vehicles, drones, and hundreds of troops. The operation resulted in the deaths of 17 individuals, including a high-ranking militant commander.

The Israeli military reported that 16 militants were killed across the West Bank. Among the casualties was Mohammed Jaber, also known as Abu Shujaa, a local commander of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad militant group. Jaber, along with four other militants, was killed in a shootout at a mosque in Tulkarem.

The Israeli military said it killed five more West Bank militants, including a local commander, as it pressed ahead Thursday with what appeared to be the deadliest operation in the occupied territory since the start of the war in Gaza. https://t.co/PKqv2M8WKU

— PBS News (@NewsHour) August 29, 2024

Reactions and International Response

The raids have drawn concern from various international bodies and leaders. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called for an immediate halt to the operations, urging Israel to comply with international law and protect civilians.

“These dangerous developments are fueling an already explosive situation in the occupied West Bank and further undermining the Palestinian Authority,” he said in a statement from his spokesman Stéphane Dujarric.

Leaders from Britain and France have also emphasized the need for a cease-fire in Gaza. Meanwhile, Hamas has called for an uprising in the West Bank and urged Palestinian Authority security forces to “join the sacred battle of our people.”

Israel kills prominent militant as it wages its deadliest West Bank raids since the Gaza war began https://t.co/kU1A1Qb7lW

— The Associated Press (@AP) August 29, 2024

Broader Context of the Conflict

This raid represents an escalation on a third front for Israel, alongside conflicts in Gaza and with Hezbollah in Lebanon. The operation is part of a broader conflict that has seen over 650 Palestinians killed in the West Bank since the war began, mostly militants but also civilians and protesters.

The West Bank, Gaza Strip, and east Jerusalem were captured by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war, and Palestinians seek these territories for a future state. The current conflict began with a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, killing around 1,200 people and abducting 250. Israel’s response has resulted in over 40,000 Palestinian deaths in Gaza, with around 90% of the population displaced.

Humanitarian Concerns and Peace Efforts

As the conflict continues, humanitarian concerns are mounting. In a positive development, Israel has agreed to pause some military operations in Gaza starting Sunday to allow health workers to administer polio vaccines to 650,000 Palestinian children.

Peace efforts are ongoing, with the United States, Qatar, and Egypt mediating for a cease-fire. However, talks have stalled as Israel seeks “total victory” over Hamas, while Hamas demands a lasting cease-fire and withdrawal of Israeli forces.

As the situation remains volatile, the international community continues to call for restraint and a peaceful resolution to the conflict.