The Israeli military has claimed killing Hamas group military wing commander in the West Bank city of Jenin along with two other operatives, in clashes and drone strikes, as a major operation continues for a third day in the north of the occupied West Bank.
According to the Israeli security agency, Wissam Hazem was shot dead followed by air strikes on the other two as they attempted to flee.
The Palestinian health ministry said the three men were killed overnight near the town of Zababdeh, south-east of Jenin. Hamas also confirmed their deaths.
Israel claimed that Hazem was planning more attacks and had taken part in multiple shooting and bombing incidents. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) identified the other two gunmen as Maysara Masharqa and Arafat Amer, who were killed by the drone.
Israel launched its large-scale military operations in Jenin, Tulkarm and Tubas governorates in early Wednesday. The military operations involving the use of airstrikes, resulted in casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure.
The IDF had killed 20 gunmen and detained another 17 since the start of the operation. Palestinian media also reported that 20 had been killed.
According to the Palestinian Authority’s health ministry, more than 670 West Bank Palestinians have been killed in that time. The IDF says the vast majority of them were gunmen killed in exchanges of fire, rioters who clashed with troops or terrorists carrying out attacks.
In the wake of this military operation, yesterday, UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for an immediate cessation under international humanitarian law.
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