Israel has reported killing two armed men suspected of carrying out a recent attack that claimed the lives of three Israelis in the occupied West Bank.
The men, identified as Qutaiba Shalabi and Mohammed Nazzal, were killed following an intense gunfight with Israeli forces in Burqin, near Jenin, late Wednesday.
According to the Palestinian health ministry, their bodies were seized by Israeli forces, and the building they occupied was demolished.
Hamas has since claimed the two men as its fighters. The killings occurred amidst a significant Israeli military operation in and around Jenin that began on Tuesday.
The operation has seen army vehicles controlling access to the city’s main hospital and blocking entry to the Jenin refugee camp, a densely populated area housing civilians and armed Palestinian groups.
So far, 12 Palestinians, including Shalabi and Nazzal, have been killed in the operation, with dozens injured. Among the dead is Ahmed al-Shayeb, a local businessman well-known for owning a mobile phone shop. Witnesses say he was not involved in the fighting.
His 10-year-old son, Taym, recounted the harrowing moment his father was shot while driving near the refugee camp.
“They started shooting, and a bullet hit him,” Taym recalled at his father’s funeral. “He said, ‘God, God,’ then the car hit the pavement. I saw two army vehicles coming toward us. They started to shoot towards the car, but I jumped out and ran away.” The Israeli army has stated it is reviewing the incident.
The Jenin operation is part of Israel’s broader strategy to dismantle armed groups allegedly backed by Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, which it accuses of planning attacks. Officials have expressed concern over growing Iranian influence and weapons reaching the West Bank.
The campaign has also drawn support from those in Israel advocating for the annexation of the West Bank.
Inside Jenin, reports of fierce fighting on Tuesday night left many residents attempting to flee the area on Wednesday. The roads leading to the camp, heavily damaged by military bulldozers, are under tight military control.
Civilians attempting to leave described being separated into small groups and inspected by drones before being allowed to proceed or detained. One man, seen lifting his infant son above rubble and debris, expressed fears about those still trapped in the camp.
“There are still a lot of people inside – the elderly, sick, and kids,” he said. “They can’t leave. God help them.”
The current military operation, described as far more aggressive than previous raids, has drawn comparisons to the situation in Gaza.
Residents like Kefah Sehwal, who has lost 15 family members, believe the operation is a reaction to Israel’s challenges in Gaza. “It’s different this time – they’re striking everywhere. It’s like Gaza,” she said.
Israel’s Defense Minister, Israel Katz, described the operation as part of a “shift in strategy,” aimed not only at eliminating fighters but also preventing their resurgence.
However, the outcome of this strategy remains uncertain, as similar plans in Gaza have failed to yield long-term results.
