Israeli Drone Strike Kills Hamas Commander and Four Others in West Bank

Israeli Drone Strike Claims Lives of Hamas Commander and Four Others in West Bank

An Israeli drone strike targeting a vehicle in the occupied West Bank has resulted in the deaths of a Hamas military commander along with four other Palestinians, as reported by various local media outlets. The incident occurred along a road linking the Palestinian villages of Zeita and Qaffin, situated near the city of Tulkarem.

According to the Israeli army, the individuals in the vehicle were purportedly en route to execute an attack. The official Palestinian news agency, Wafa, reported that the bodies of the five victims were transported to a nearby hospital, with four of them described as being “burned and charred beyond recognition.” As of now, the Palestinian health ministry has not issued a statement regarding the fatalities.

In the wake of the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, over 590 Palestinians have reportedly lost their lives due to Israeli fire in the West Bank since the outbreak of hostilities in Gaza last October, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. The majority of these deaths have occurred during Israeli raids and violent protests, but the toll also includes innocent bystanders and Palestinians who have been killed in attacks carried out by Jewish settlers.

The northern region of the West Bank has experienced some of the most intense violence in the territory over the past ten months. In particular, Tulkarem and its two refugee camps have emerged as significant flashpoints, frequently subjected to raids by Israeli forces. Various Palestinian militant groups, including Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, maintain a presence in the city.

Tensions in the area have escalated recently, especially following the deaths of both the leader of Hamas and a Hezbollah commander within a span of two days. This has raised concerns about potential retaliation from Iran and its allied groups, including Hezbollah. In light of these developments, several major airlines have suspended flights to both Tel Aviv, Israel, and Beirut, Lebanon.

In a related development, the Pentagon has announced plans to reposition a squadron of fighter jets to the Middle East, alongside maintaining an aircraft carrier in the region. President Joe Biden has expressed that he urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to take advantage of the opportunity for a cease-fire with Hamas, noting that the killing of Haniyeh in Iran has “not helped” the efforts to negotiate an end to the ongoing conflict.