The Israeli military has escalated its operations in the northern West Bank and early Thursday killed five militants, of whom one was a local commander. This move has been made in the context of Israel’s continuous endeavors towards the reduction of escalating terrorism in the region.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called on Israel to stop its operations, yet Israel continues to fuel an already explosive situation.
The military operation was launched on Wednesday and was called by Israel a ‘counter-terrorism operation’. Up to hundreds of troops backed by helicopters, drones, and tanks struck the West Bank cities of Tulkarm and Jenin and also the Jordan Valley area.
Among the dead was Muhammad Jabber, described as “Abu Shujaa.” The Al Aqsa Martyr Brigades said he headed a militant cell located in the Nur Shams refugee camp close to Tulkarm. In response to his assassination, the Tulkarm division of Islamic Jihad’s armed wing said that its fighters had attacked an Israeli infantry unit near the Abu Ubaida Mosque.
Since late Tuesday, these synchronized operations have led to the killing of 16 people, mainly militant personnel, as Israel tries to avert such operations in the future. However, many Palestinians consider these as related to the Israeli-Hamas activities as a continuation of the occupations and the constant military presence in the Palestinian territories.
Abu Shujaa was also earlier this year a symbol of resistance for many Palestinians. He was reported killed in an Israeli operation but later surprised everyone after he emerged from a funeral of other militants accompanied by an enthusiastic reception.
