Israel launched a series of raids in the West Bank, resulting in the deaths of at least nine Palestinians. The city of Jenin was sealed off, with Israeli forces surrounding it and blocking entry and exit points. The raids are part of ongoing operations to dismantle Hamas and prevent attacks on Israelis, which have increased in the region. Most Palestinians killed in the West Bank during the Gaza war have died in such raids.
The West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem were captured by Israel in the 1967 war, and Palestinians want these territories for a future state. Israeli settlements in the West Bank house over 500,000 Jewish settlers, while Palestinians in the West Bank live under Israeli military rule with limited control by the Palestinian Authority.
The Gaza war began when Hamas militants attacked southern Israel, leading to a large-scale offensive by Israel that has resulted in the deaths of over 40,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. Talks to secure a cease-fire and the release of remaining hostages have been ongoing, with the negotiations moving from the US to Qatar. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to achieve “total victory” over Hamas, while the militant group seeks a lasting cease-fire and Israeli withdrawal from the territory.
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