The United Nations has called for de-escalation as Israeli forces continue their raids in the occupied West Bank for the second consecutive day. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated on Wednesday that they initiated a “counter-terrorism operation.” By Thursday, the IDF reported 12 fatalities in the cities of Jenin and Tulkarm, and four more in Far’a.
The Palestinian health ministry confirmed that 16 people have been killed since the operation began on Wednesday morning. UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged Israel to halt its operations immediately, warning that the actions were “fueling an already explosive situation.” He called on Israeli forces to “exercise maximum restraint and use lethal force only when absolutely necessary.”
The IDF claimed that five militants were killed in Tulkarm after “exchanges of fire” with armed individuals hiding in a mosque. Seven people were reported dead in Jenin. Among those killed was Mohammed Jaber, also known as Abu Shujaa, identified as the local leader of the Tulkarem Brigade, which is affiliated with the Palestinian Islamic Jihad militant group. The IDF linked Jaber to several attacks on Israelis and claimed he was planning further assaults.
In response, the Tulkarm Brigade stated on Telegram that its fighters ambushed an Israeli infantry unit “in response to the assassination of our commander,” without directly naming him. The IDF also reported apprehending 10 wanted suspects and recovering explosives and weapons during their raids in Tulkarm and Jenin. In Far’a, the IDF reported killing four armed militants inside a vehicle.
The Palestinian Mission to the UN condemned the raids in a letter on Thursday, accusing the Israeli military of “invading homes, deliberately targeting civilians, destroying vital infrastructure, and besieging the four main hospitals in the area.” In response, the IDF reiterated that they were targeting armed militants linked to previous attacks.
In Jenin, ambulances were stopped and searched by military jeeps stationed around the government hospital, as security forces continued operations in the city’s refugee camp. The camp, which houses both armed groups and unarmed civilians, has been the site of many fierce gun battles.
The ongoing operation, which Israeli media suggests could last several days, is one of the largest in the West Bank since the second Palestinian intifada two decades ago. Israel’s ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, defended the operation, stating that it aims to prevent “Iranian terror-by-proxy” that threatens Israeli civilians. Danon also noted accusations against Iran of attempting to smuggle explosive devices into Israel, backed by Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
Amid the escalating violence in the West Bank following Hamas’s October 7th attack on Israel and the subsequent war in Gaza, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell expressed concern. He warned that Israel’s operation in the West Bank “must not lead to the extension of war from Gaza.” Borrell has begun consultations with EU members on the possibility of imposing sanctions on unnamed Israeli ministers, accusing them of promoting “unacceptable hate messages against Palestinians” and making proposals that violate international law.