Israeli troops have claimed to have killed five Palestinian militants at a mosque in the West Bank during counterterrorism operations in Tulkarm. The IDF stated that one of those killed was involved in a shooting attack on an Israeli civilian in June.
The violence on Thursday came after Israeli forces killed at least 10 Palestinians in overnight raids and airstrikes, with the army saying the operations were aimed at preventing attacks on Israelis using Iranian-supplied weapons. The four other militants killed were described by the military as “terrorists” who hid inside the mosque.
The Palestinian Authority criticized the escalation of Israeli military operations in the West Bank, warning of dire consequences. In response to this violence, the EU’s foreign policy chief initiated consultations with member states about possible sanctions on Israeli ministers responsible for spreading hate messages against Palestinians.
Additionally, the UN’s World Food Programme temporarily halted movement in Gaza after one of its vehicles was shot at near an Israeli military checkpoint. Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the loss of lives in the West Bank and called for an immediate cessation of military operations.
Amidst ongoing conflict, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu suggested a partial suspension of military operations in Gaza to allow for the vaccination of children against polio, with the first round of vaccinations set to begin on Saturday. This comes as cases of polio have been detected in Gaza, posing a threat to both Palestinians and Israelis.
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Photo credit www.theguardian.com
