Ten Palestinians killed after Israel raids West Bank camp

Palestinian Authority condemns action as 'serious escalation'

- ALEX CROFT

Israel's military has launched major raids on the occupied West Bank, including the flashpoint cities of Jenin and Tulkarem, in one of the largest military operations in the area for years. At least 10 Palestinians have been killed, according to Palestinian health officials, with the raids involving helicopters and drones.

Israel has targeted multiple cities at once, with Nablus and Tubas also being hit. It is believed to be the first time it has done so since the second intifada, a major Palestinian uprising that took place between 2000 and 2005. Two men were killed in Jenin and seven in Tubas, the Hamas-run Palestinian health ministry said.

With Israeli forces at war with Hamas in Gaza and simultaneously facing a major escalation of tensions with Hezbollah in southern Lebanon – both groups being backed by Iran – yesterday’s operation underscored the complexity of the situation sparked by the Gaza conflict, with Israel now fighting on two fronts.

Palestinian militant groups said they were exchanging fire with the Israeli military, which has conducted near-daily raids on the West Bank since launching its military operation in Gaza in the wake of the bloody 7 October attack inside Israel by Hamas.

Around 1,200 people were killed in that attack, while another 250 were taken hostage, according to Israeli tallies. The consequent Israeli bombardment has killed more than 40,000 people inside Gaza – according to Palestinian health officials – while 90 per cent of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents have been forced from their homes.

The armed wings of the Hamas, Islamic Jihad and Fatah factions said in separate statements that their gunmen were detonating bombs against Israeli military vehicles in the three West Bank areas.