Israeli forces fatally shoot six Palestinians during West Bank operation

Picture: Getty Images

Israeli troops killed six Palestinian men in Jenin during a military operation to capture a Hamas operative suspected of killing two Israeli brothers. The Israeli military said the operation took place in a refugee camp in Jenin, where the Hamas member, Abdelfattah Kharoushe, was barricaded. Troops fired shoulder-mounted missiles and killed Kharoushe along with five other Palestinian men.

Hamas confirmed that one of those killed was a member of its armed wing and identified the others as militants who joined the gunfight with Israeli troops. At least 65 Palestinians and 14 Israelis have been killed in the West Bank and Jerusalem since the beginning of 2023, marking one of the deadliest periods for both sides in years.

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict showed no signs of abating as tensions flared up again, despite previous efforts to calm the situation before the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. On Sunday, an alleged Hamas operative, Abdelfattah Kharoushe, killed two Israeli brothers in the town of Huwara. In response, hundreds of Jewish rioters rampaged through Huwara and neighboring villages, destroying property and injuring scores of people, including a Palestinian who lost his life. Despite previous assurances to keep a lid on hostilities, Israeli officials declared that there were no restrictions on their military activities, leading to Tuesday's deadly raid in Jenin where six Palestinians were killed.

The revenge attack was condemned by a top Israeli general as a "pogrom," a term usually used for attacks on Jewish communities in Eastern Europe in the 19th and 20th centuries. The State Department also condemned the riots and urged Israel to hold the perpetrators accountable. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu commended the troops for eliminating the terrorist who killed the two brothers in cold blood during the Jenin raid. Mr. Netanyahu warned that whoever attacks Israel will face consequences.