TULKAREM: Seven Palestinians were killed on Wednesday in Israeli strikes in the occupied West Bank, according to reports from emergency services and the Israeli military. The violence, which has been escalating in the region, shows no signs of abating.
The Palestinian Red Crescent reported that four people lost their lives in Tulkarem refugee camp due to an Israeli strike early in the morning. The camp, besieged by aircraft and a significant Israeli military presence, witnessed the tragic aftermath of the bombardment.
“The camp is besieged by aircraft and heavy numbers of the Israeli army, and tanks,” said Faisal Salama, an official at the camp.
Confirming the air strike in Tulkarem, the Israeli military stated that “a number of people were killed in the strike.” Subsequent to the strike, loud explosions were heard in the camp, accompanied by thick smoke and sporadic gunfire.
Israeli Strikes in West Bank
In a separate incident near Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus, three men were reported dead. The Israeli military claimed that Ahmed Abdullah Abu Shalal, a Palestinian, was killed.
Witnesses in Balata described waking up to a loud explosion, followed by an ambulance’s arrival at the scene. However, Israeli troops blocked the ambulance’s access to the damaged vehicle.
Since the commencement of the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza on October 7, the West Bank has experienced a surge in violence not seen since the second Palestinian uprising, or intifada, between 2000 and 2005. The Palestinian health ministry reports that at least 360 people in the West Bank have lost their lives due to Israeli forces and attacks by settlers during this period.
The West Bank, home to around three million Palestinians, coexists with approximately 490,000 Israelis residing in settlements deemed illegal under international law.
