In a brazen attack, Israeli forces killed a local commander of the Islamist movement Hamas in the flashpoint city of Jenin on Friday, as they continued a major operation in the occupied West Bank for a third consecutive day.
According to the Israeli military, Border Police forces gunned down Wassem Hazem, who was identified as the head of Hamas in Jenin. The military claimed that Hazem was involved in numerous shooting and bombing attacks in the Palestinian territory.
Eyewitnesses described the scene as chaotic, with Israeli forces pursuing a car carrying Hazem and two other Hamas gunmen through the streets of Jenin. The vehicle eventually came to a halt in the village of Zababdeh, just outside Jenin, where it was attacked by an Israeli drone.
“It was like a war zone,” said one resident, who wished to remain anonymous. “The sound of gunfire and explosions was deafening. We were terrified.”
The Israeli military said that the two other Hamas gunmen, who tried to escape the car, were killed by the drone. The military also claimed that weapons, explosives, and large sums of cash were found in the vehicle.
Hamas confirmed the death of all three men, identifying them as members of its Al-Qassam Brigades armed wing. In a statement, the movement vowed to respond to the killings, saying that “the blood of our martyrs will not be shed in vain.”
Israel’s Operation in West Bank
The killings come as Israeli forces continue a major operation in the West Bank, which has seen widespread arrests, home demolitions, and clashes between soldiers and Palestinian protesters. The operation, which began on Wednesday, is the largest of its kind in months, with thousands of Israeli troops deployed across the territory.
Tensions have been running high in the West Bank in recent weeks, with a surge in violence and attacks on Israeli forces. The Israeli military has responded with force, carrying out raids and arrests in cities and towns across the territory.
The situation in Jenin is particularly volatile, with the city having been a hotbed of resistance against Israeli occupation for years. In recent months, there have been numerous clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinian protesters in the city, with several Palestinians killed and dozens injured.
The international community has condemned the Israeli operation, with the United Nations expressing concern over the “escalating violence” in the West Bank. The Palestinian Authority has also denounced the killings, saying that they are a “clear example of Israel’s policy of extrajudicial killings.”
As the Israeli operation continues, there are fears of further violence and instability in the West Bank. With tensions running high and the situation on the ground increasingly volatile, it remains to be seen how the situation will unfold in the coming days.
