The United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, has urged Israel to halt its ongoing military operation in the West Bank, expressing concern that it is exacerbating an already volatile situation. The operation, which began on Wednesday, involves hundreds of Israeli troops, helicopters, drones, and armored personnel carriers conducting raids in the flashpoint cities of Tulkarm, Jenin, and areas within the Jordan Valley.
Israel has characterized the operation as a “counter-terrorism operation” aimed at preventing attacks. However, Palestinian groups view it as a widening of the Israel-Hamas war that perpetuates Israel’s long-standing military control over the territory. The operation has resulted in the deaths of at least 16 Palestinians, almost all of whom were militants, since late Tuesday. The Palestinian Health Ministry reports that over 650 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank since the start of the war, with most being militants killed during Israeli operations.
The Islamic Jihad militant group confirmed the death of Mohammed Jaber, known as Abu Shujaa, during a raid in Tulkarem. Abu Shujaa became a symbol of Palestinian resistance after surviving a previous Israeli operation and making a surprise appearance at the funeral of other militants. The Israeli military claims that Abu Shujaa was involved in numerous attacks on Israelis, including a deadly shooting in June, and was planning further attacks.
The Israeli military operation has drawn strong condemnation from the international community, with the UN Secretary-General expressing concerns about the escalating violence and its impact on regional stability. The operation has also intensified tensions between Israel and Palestinian groups, further complicating the already fraught political landscape in the region.
Israel captured the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and east Jerusalem during the 1967 Mideast war. Palestinians seek all three territories for their future state, making the ongoing conflict a complex and long-standing issue with no easy solutions.
