The Israel Defense Forces on Wednesday evening carried out a drone strike in the northern West Bank, with the Palestinian Authority reporting at least 10 people were killed.
The strike in the town of Tamun targeted a cell of armed terror operatives, according to the military, which said it would later provide further details.
Hamas issued a statement condemning the strike, which came amid a major counterterrorism offensive in the northern West Bank that Israel launched amid the hostage release and ceasefire deal with the Gaza-ruling terror group.
“The escalating crimes of the fascist occupation in the West Bank and its continued policy of assassinations against our heroic resistance fighters and mujahideen… are a reaffirmation of the occupation’s criminal approach against our people and a failed attempt to break our valiant resistance,” said Hamas.
The ongoing IDF offensive, dubbed Operation Iron Wall, has primarily focused on the city and refugee camp of Jenin but on Monday expanded to Tulkarem.
Visiting Jenin earlier Wednesday, Defense Minister Israel Katz vowed the IDF would remain in the camp even after the military operation there, “to ensure the terror does not return.” His visit came hours after the PA health ministry reported two Palestinians were killed there overnight by Israeli forces.
Defense Minister Israel Katz (left) and the commander of the West Bank division, Brig. Gen. Yaki Dolf are seen in the Jenin refugee camp, January 29, 2025. (Ariel Hermoni/Defense Ministry)
The West Bank has seen a surge in violence since Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel out of the Gaza Strip ignited the war there. The Palestinian Authority says over 800 Palestinians have been killed. Most appear to have been gunmen killed in battle during Israeli arrest raids, but the dead also include people killed during violent protests, as well as civilian bystanders.
During the same period, 46 people, including Israeli security personnel, have been killed in terror attacks in Israel and the West Bank. Another seven members of the security forces were killed in clashes with terror operatives in the West Bank.
There has also been an uptick in settler violence against Palestinians and Palestinian attacks on Israelis since the start of the war.
Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.
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