In an incident on Sunday, Israeli forces shot dead three Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, alleging that they were on their way to carry out an attack. The soldiers opened fire on a vehicle, resulting in the death of all three passengers, as stated in an army statement.
The army’s statement mentioned, “A short time ago, a vehicle carrying a squad of terrorists from the Jenin refugee camp was identified while on its way to carry out an attack.” According to the Quds News Network, the vehicle faced a barrage of over 100 bullets.
Among the deceased was Naif Abu Tsuik, aged 26, whom the army identified as a “leading military operative” from the Jenin refugee camp. The army claimed he was involved in military action against Israeli security forces and was engaged in advancing military activity directed by terrorists in the Gaza Strip, which is controlled by the group Hamas.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the security forces for their actions, emphasising that Israel would continue to act against those who pose threats to the nation’s safety.
In response to the incident, Hazem Qasem, a Hamas Gaza spokesman, vowed that the deaths of the Palestinian individuals would not go unpunished. He stated, “The enemy, which assassinated three of our Palestinian people, will not escape paying the price of its crimes.”
The incident adds to the heightened tension in the region, particularly in Jenin, which has been a flashpoint with numerous Israeli raids, several of them deadly, in recent months. One such incident occurred in June, with the largest Israeli raid on the camp in nearly two decades, resulting in the death of 12 Palestinians and the displacement of thousands.
The occupied West Bank has been witnessing a spiral of violence over the past year and a half. On August 5, Kamel Abu Bakr, from Jenin, carried out a shooting in central Tel Aviv, killing an Israeli police inspector before being shot dead by a responding officer.
Additionally, a settler rampage in the occupied West Bank led to the killing of 19-year-old Palestinian Qusai Jamal Maatan, while Israeli soldiers shot dead 18-year-old Mahmoud Abu Sa’an during one of their daily pre-dawn raids in the occupied territory.
This year has seen a devastating toll on Palestinians in the occupied territories and Gaza Strip, with over 200 killed, mostly in the West Bank. Officials have expressed concern that 2023 could become the deadliest year for Palestinians in the occupied territory.
