Palestinian health ministry reports at least 18 dead, including some Hamas gunmen, in the Israeli air strike in the West Bank city of Tulkarm late on Thursday in strike kills Hamas.
Palestinian Authority affiliated Wafa news agency reported that the strike targeted a cafe in Tulkarm refugee camp with civilians inside.
Hamas said that one of its commanders, Zahi Yaser Abd al-Razeq Oufi, died in the strike which the IDF said tried a car bombing last month and provided weapons.
The Israeli military said that the air strike was coordinated with Shin Bet security service to target and eliminate. Oufi and “other influential terrorists”.
The al-Qassam Brigades of the Palestinian Hamas said in a post on the messaging app Telegram. That seven of its members were killed in the cafe attack.
Israeli Airstrike Eliminates Key strike kills Hamas Leader in West Bank
After the Hamas attack on Israel on 7 October 2023 and subsequent war in Gaza, there was an even greater increase in lethal violence in the West Bank, already the deadliest year recorded in the occupied territory.
Since then, over 700 Palestinians have been killed in the territory, including an estimated 95 children. Said the Palestinian health ministry as Israeli forces continue to escalate their operations. The IDF has stated its aim is to prevent fatal Palestinian attacks on Israelis in the West Bank and Israel.
The Israeli military has launched scores of air raids in the occupied. West Bank in the last year but the plane was not used in most of these operations, rather drones or helicopter.
A witness from the area which an AFP news agency obtained his account said that the Israeli had “hit a cafeteria in a three storey building”.
It said he had been planning another attack imminently. And was killed along with several other Hamas operatives.
Wafa quoted a local official as saying children and elderly. People from several families had been killed in the strike. There were also a large number of injured.
A local cafe owner and brother of one of those killed told Reuters news agency. “We are used to missile sounds, drones and the explosive drones, but the sound was strong.
Hamas Commander Killed in Israeli Operation: strike kills Hamas
“We haven’t heard this sound since 2002, during the second Palestinian uprising.”
Another witness, named as Abdallah Kanana, told the agency. He was thrown from his chair as a result of the explosion.
It said that he has been preparing for another attack shortly. And was eliminated with other Hamas operatives.
Wafa also cited a local official as saying the strike left children and elderly people from several families dead. There were also a large number of those, who got injured.
A local cafe owner and brother of one of those killed told Reuters news agency. ‘We are used to missile sounds, drones and the explosive drones but the sound was strong’.
”We have not heard it since the second Palestinian uprising, that took place in 2002.”
Another witness that deposed to the agency and who identified himself as Abdallah Kanana. Said that he was dislocated from his chair due to the effect of the explosion.
The UN rights office described the attack in a statement it released on Friday.
“The strike is part of a highly alarming trend of excessive force by ISF during what can be described as paramilitary operations across the West Bank that resulted in serious injuries of Palestinians and substantial losses to property and assets,” the UN stated.
Tulkarm was one of the towns and refugee camps in which the Palestinian population suffered a large-scale Israeli military takeover in August.
Conclusion
Earlier last month, UN rights chief Volker Turk said major Israeli operations in the occupied West Bank are happening “at a scale not seen in the last two decades.”
At the same time, at least 24 Israelis, including security forces, were killed by Palestinians during the same period, the Israeli side reports.