Devastating Israeli Offensive in West Bank Claims Nine Lives Amid Escalating Conflict

By Newsroom

Administrator

Posted: August 28, 2024 at 8:01 pm, Updated: August 28, 2024 at 8:01 pm

Military vehicles of Israeli army are seen on the streets as they raid Tulkarm Camp in West Bank on August 3. Photo / Getty Images

Key Points

Israeli forces carried out a significant offensive in the West Bank, resulting in at least nine Palestinian deaths. The operation targeted Jenin, Tulkarm, and Tubas as part of heightened counter-terrorism measures.
Palestinian groups, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad, engaged in combat with Israeli forces, using bombs and firearms, and accused Israel of extending the Gaza conflict into the West Bank.
During the operation, Israeli forces rescued Qaid Farhan Alkadi, a security guard held hostage by Hamas for over 10 months. Israeli leaders hailed the rescue, while ongoing hostilities continue with over 100 hostages still in Gaza.

Devastating Israeli Offensive in West Bank Claims Nine Lives Amid Escalating Conflict

Israeli forces launched a powerful assault across the occupied West Bank, killing at least nine people, according to Palestinian health officials.

The Israeli military confirmed the operation, targeting the towns of Jenin, Tulkarm, and Tubas. This offensive, according to NZ Herald, is part of Israel’s intensified counter-terrorism efforts in response to rising tensions since the Israel-Hamas war began in Gaza.

Palestinian armed groups, including Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and Fatah, claimed responsibility for fighting back against Israeli forces, stating that they detonated bombs against military vehicles and engaged in close-range combat.

Devastating Israeli Offensive in West Bank Claims Nine Lives Amid Escalating Conflict (1) — Streets with destructed buildings are seen after Israeli attacks in Tulkarm, West Bank on August 3. Photo / Getty Images

Islamic Jihad accused Israel of trying to expand the conflict from Gaza to the West Bank. They reported using machine guns and explosives to target Israeli military vehicles and bulldozers.

Amid the violence, the Israeli military rescued 52-year-old Qaid Farhan Alkadi, a security guard taken hostage by Hamas over 10 months ago. Alkadi, a member of the Bedouin community, was found alone in an underground tunnel in southern Gaza. He was safely transferred to a hospital, where his condition was reported as stable.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the rescue operation, vowing to continue efforts to bring all remaining hostages home. The military operation has been welcomed by Israeli leaders, with President Isaac Herzog describing it as “a moment of joy for Israel.”

The conflict shows no signs of easing, with over 100 hostages still held in Gaza, and negotiations to end the war and secure their release have made little progress.