Israeli forces conducted a series of raids in the occupied West Bank on Wednesday, resulting in the deaths of at least nine Palestinians, according to Palestinian authorities. The raids targeted the cities of Jenin and Tulkarm, along with the town of Far’a near Tubas in the Jordan Valley. The most significant attack involved helicopters and drones and followed smaller raids in recent weeks as Israel attempts to suppress Palestinian militant groups.
The Palestinian Health Ministry reported that Israeli troops surrounded Jenin’s main hospital with earthmounds to prevent fighters from seeking refuge. Five Palestinians, identified as militants for Hamas and Islamic Jihad, were killed in Tulkarm on Monday. In Far’a, at least four people were killed in a drone strike.
These raids come amid heightened tensions in the West Bank following the Israel-Hamas War in Gaza, which began nearly 11 months ago. Since the war’s onset, Israeli forces have arrested thousands of Palestinians in raids, and the Palestinian Health Ministry has recorded over 660 deaths of fighters and civilians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. In response, at least 30 Israelis have been killed in attacks in Jerusalem and the West Bank during the same period.
The situation in the West Bank is further complicated by Israel’s ongoing battle against Hamas fighters in Gaza and rising tensions with the Iranian-backed Hezbollah movement in southern Lebanon. Israel is facing a multifaceted security challenge in the region, and the escalating violence in the West Bank is a major concern.
The news of these raids has also impacted the stock market, with defense companies experiencing mixed performance. Lockheed Martin Corporation, Boeing Co, and Northrup Grumman NOC saw slight fluctuations, while exchange-traded funds holding their stocks trended upwards. This reflects the heightened awareness of the situation and its potential impact on the defense industry.
