Israel intensified its military operations on Wednesday in the occupied West Bank, killing nine Palestinian fighters, according to the Israeli army, as the conflict in Gaza continued unabated for nearly 11 months.
West Bank Raids
The Israeli military conducted coordinated raids across four West Bank cities—Jenin, Nablus, Tubas, and Tulkarem. The operation involved columns of Israeli armored vehicles entering refugee camps in Tulkarem and Tubas, as well as Jenin. Israeli forces blocked entrances to towns and camps and engaged in heavy exchanges of gunfire and explosions.
The Palestinian Red Crescent reported that nine Palestinians were killed and 15 others injured in the raids. Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas cut short a visit to Saudi Arabia to return home to “follow up on the latest developments” amid the escalation in the northern West Bank.
Israeli army spokesperson Nadav Shoshani described the operation as routine military activity, despite its scale, and mentioned that Israeli forces were encountering explosives and engaged in firefights with militants. Foreign Minister Israel Katz, however, described the operation as an effort to dismantle “Iranian-Islamic terror infrastructure.”
Broader Conflict Context
The raids in the West Bank are part of the broader conflict that erupted after Hamas’s unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7, which killed 1,199 people, mostly civilians. Since then, Israeli retaliatory strikes have resulted in the deaths of over 40,000 people in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. The conflict has also led to widespread destruction and a severe humanitarian crisis, with nearly all of Gaza’s 2.4 million residents displaced at least once.
The situation in the West Bank has become increasingly volatile, with more than 650 Palestinians killed by Israeli forces or settlers since the beginning of the Gaza war, while 19 Israelis have been killed in Palestinian attacks during the same period.
Humanitarian Impact
As the conflict drags on, humanitarian conditions continue to deteriorate. In Gaza, the Israeli army’s evacuation orders have led to mass displacements, including nearly 650 patients fleeing Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Hospital in Deir el-Balah. Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has set up a field hospital amidst a critical shortage of medical supplies and resources, calling it a “last resort” as Israel’s military actions disrupt Gaza’s healthcare system.
New Israeli airstrikes in Gaza have claimed at least 12 lives, including children and women, further exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.
Rising Tensions and Future Outlook
The recent military activities and Israel’s statement about addressing perceived threats have escalated tensions in the region. Hamas, whose popularity in the West Bank has surged since the war began, has urged Palestinians to “rise up” against Israel. Far-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir’s remarks about building a synagogue at the Al-Aqsa mosque compound have further inflamed the situation.
As the conflict continues, the Israeli military maintains its operations, with an uncertain outlook on how long the violence will persist.