Two Palestinians killed by Israeli forces in occupied West Bank’s Jenin

In the Jenin governorate in the occupied West Bank, two Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces, bringing the total number of Palestinians killed there to 19 since a major assault began almost two weeks ago.

The Palestinian Ministry of Health claims that Israeli forces shot the two Palestinians dead late on Thursday during an Israeli army operation inside the Jenin refugee camp.

Yazan Hatem al-Hassan and Amir Abu Hassan, according to the Wafa news agency.

Three middle-aged Palestinian women from the refugee camp who were shot by Israeli aircraft were reportedly taken by the Palestinian Red Crescent Society in Jenin.

On Wednesday, during a visit to the refugee camp, Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz said the assault was aimed at destroying “terror infrastructure”, adding that after the completion of the operation, the Israeli army will remain in the camp.

Following the army’s announcement on Thursday that one of its soldiers had died in the occupied territory, the latest Israeli assault was launched in Jenin.

On Tuesday, two Palestinian youths were killed in the same area by Israeli forces. In addition, ten Palestinians were killed on Wednesday when a drone strike hit Ramallah.

Israeli forces almost immediately immediately called off a major offensive in the Jenin area earlier this month, known as the “Iron Wall.”

On Thursday evening, two Palestinian children were hit by Israeli gunfire in the town of al-Khader, south of Bethlehem, wounding them in their feet.

A 23-year-old Palestinian man was also injured by Israeli gunfire during a raid in the town of al-Ubeidiya, east of Bethlehem.

In addition, Israeli forces also stormed the Bawaba area of al-Khader and fired tear gas and stun grenades, causing several civilians to suffer from suffocation due to gas inhalation, Wafa reported.

Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa described the situation in the occupied West Bank as “a systematic attempt to destroy the Palestinian state’s foundations” on Thursday.

“We are witnessing military incursions into northern West Bank governorates, accompanied by killing, detention, infrastructure destruction, and demolition of homes and structures. This calls for immediate international action to end this.

Israel has been conducting a similar, extensive military offensive throughout the occupied West Bank since October 2023, aside from its full-fledged military assault on Gaza.

At least 880 Palestinians have been killed in the occupied West Bank since then by Israeli forces and settlers.