Israeli air strike kills two Hamas fighters in the occupied West Bank

According to the Palestinian organization Hamas, Israeli airstrikes killed two Hamas militants in the city of Tulkarm, highlighting Israel's renewed focus on the occupied West Bank since the start of the Gaza ceasefire agreement. Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, stated that the two individuals killed on Monday were members of its armed wing.

The Israeli military stated that their target was a Hamas leader in Tulkarm, who was accused of planning multiple attacks against Israelis, and that another Hamas member was also killed. Meanwhile, eyewitnesses in Tulkarm told Reuters that Israel is conducting raids in the city.

This operation occurs as Israel's attacks on the nearby Jenin area have continued for a seventh day. Supported by armored vehicles and drones, Israeli forces launched a series of attacks on Jenin, a crowded town north of Tulkarm, on January 21 as part of Israel's "Iron Wall" operation. The Palestinian health department stated that at least 16 Palestinians have been killed in Jenin and its surrounding areas since the operation began.

Jenin Mayor Mohammed Jarrar said on Sunday that approximately 15,000 people have been forced to flee the camp due to the Israeli attacks. He also added that, according to preliminary estimates, Israeli forces have completely destroyed 30 to 40 homes in Jenin, with hundreds of others partially damaged. "Israeli forces are bulldozing and destroying streets and infrastructure to make way for their vehicles to pass through the rubble of destroyed Palestinian homes," Jarrar said.

Last week, the Israeli military stated in a statement that they conducted airstrikes on "terror infrastructure sites" in Jenin, adding that "numerous explosives planted along the route were dismantled." Later on Saturday night, Palestinian officials stated that Israeli forces shot and killed a two-year-old girl during a raid on the village of Ash-Shuhada, south of Jenin. Reuters quoted the baby girl, Laila Muhammad Khatib’s, grandmother, Ghada Asous, as saying, "They started shooting at us through the windows without any warning." "Suddenly, special forces attacked us and shot through the windows."

The Israeli military stated that during a "counter-terrorism" operation, forces opened fire on a building where suspected militants were hiding. The statement said they are reviewing reports of injuries to innocent civilians. The Palestinian Ministry of Health stated that since the start of the Gaza war on October 7, 2023, Israeli forces have killed at least 838 Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.