Israel: Health officials have reported that two Palestinians lost their lives during an Israeli military operation in a refugee camp in Tulkarem, located in the northern occupied West Bank.
The Palestinian Ministry of Health confirmed that two individuals, Mr. Asid Abu Ali (21) and Mr. Abdulrahman Abu Daghash (32), lost their lives due to Israeli gunfire during the raid. The attack caused significant damage to the infrastructure in the camp.
The Israeli military stated that they entered the Nour Shams refugee camp to target and destroy a building housing a militant command centre and bomb storage facility in response to the recent violence.
The military mentioned that their engineering units safely detonated multiple planted bombs under roads. Additionally, armed Palestinian fighters initiated gunfire and threw explosives at the approaching army during the raid, prompting Israeli troops to retaliate with live fire.
Earlier this month, Israeli forces shot and killed Mr. Ayed Samih Khaled Abu Harb, a 21-year-old, in the head during a raid on the Nour Shams refugee camp.
For the last 18 months, Israel has intensified its military operations, particularly in the northern areas of the occupied West Bank. They assert that this campaign aims to eliminate Palestinian resistance fighters and prevent future attacks.
The Israeli army has held a military occupation of the West Bank, home to about three million Palestinians, for a period of 56 years.
In July 2023, Israel conducted a major assault on the occupied West Bank, resulting in the deaths of at least 12 Palestinians in the Jenin refugee camp and injuries to approximately 100 others. The ongoing raids have not significantly reduced the conflict and have played a part in the decline of the Palestinian Authority, the self-governing body in some areas of the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
The United Nations reported that 2023 marks the deadliest year for Palestinians since they began tracking deaths in 2006. This year, over 200 Palestinians have lost their lives due to Israeli gunfire, as stated by the Health Ministry. In the same timeframe, at least 35 Israelis were killed in attacks by Palestinians.
MOST READ | Israel suspends exports from Gaza over alleged explosives smuggling
