The ongoing conflict in the West Bank has intensified with recent Israeli air strikes and violence, resulting in the tragic deaths of six Palestinians. Palestinian officials reported that at least five people were killed in an Israeli air strike targeting the Nur Shams refugee camp near Tulkarm. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the attack, stating that it had specifically targeted what it described as the command center of a "terror cell" within the camp.
In a separate incident, the Palestinian Authority reported that one person was killed and three others injured during an attack by Israeli settlers near Bethlehem. The IDF acknowledged these reports and stated that they are under investigation.
Violence in the West Bank has surged since the outbreak of war in Gaza, following a deadly attack by Hamas on southern Israel on October 7th. According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, 128 Palestinians, including 26 children, have been killed in air strikes in the West Bank since that date. The UN also reported that as of August 19th, 607 Palestinians had been killed in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, with seven of these deaths attributed to attacks by Israeli settlers.
The Nur Shams camp, which has been a frequent target of IDF operations, has seen several deadly incidents in recent months. In April, 14 people lost their lives during a two-day Israeli military operation, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent. In July, the IDF bulldozed the camp's main street.
The recent violence near Bethlehem occurred in the village of Wadi Rahhal, where Palestinian media reported that dozens of Israeli settlers entered the village and attacked residents. A 40-year-old Palestinian man was shot and killed, and at least three others were wounded, according to Palestinian officials.
The ongoing conflict is deeply rooted in the long-standing Israeli occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem, territories that Israel captured during the 1967 Middle East war. Israel has since built approximately 160 settlements in these areas, housing around 700,000 Jewish residents. The international community widely considers these settlements illegal under international law, a position that Israel disputes.
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