Israeli military says it killed top Palestinian militant

by TMO Editorial

The Israel Defense Forces said it killed five more West Bank militants, including a local commander on Thursday. According to the local press, the announcement appears to be the result of the deadliest operation in the occupied territory since the start of Israel’s war on Gaza. According to the Israeli military, the raids across the northern West Bank are aimed at preventing attacks. As of last week, at least 16 people have been reportedly killed.

The Islamic Jihad militant group confirmed that Mohammed Jaber, known as Abu Shujaa, was killed during a raid in the city of Tulkarem.

Israel said he was killed Thursday along with four other militants in a shootout. It claimed Abu Shujaa was linked to numerous attacks on Israelis, including a deadly shooting in June.

The raids have alarmed several countries including those with leaders in the UN.

UN Secretary-General, António Guterres has called for an immediate halt to the raids and has requested Israel’s government to comply with its obligations under international law and to take measures to protect civilians.

“These dangerous developments are fueling an already explosive situation in the occupied West Bank and further undermining the Palestinian Authority,” he said in a statement from his spokesman Stéphane Dujarric.
The overall toll of 16 killed in less than two days would make it the deadliest Israeli operation in the West Bank since Hamas’ Oct. 7.

According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, over 650 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank since the start of the war.

Most appear to have been militants killed in gunbattle during Israeli operations, however, reports have also indicated civilian bystanders and rock-throwing protesters have also been killed.

The raids have focused on refugee camps that date back to the 1948 war surrounding Israel’s creation, in which around 700,000 Palestinians fled or were driven out of what is now Israel. Many of the camps are militant strongholds.