© Reuters. A person holds a flag as Palestinians conflict with Israeli forces close to the Israel-Gaza border, east of Gaza Metropolis, February 22, 2023. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem 2/5
By Ali Sawafta
NABLUS, West Financial institution (Reuters) -Israeli troops killed 11 Palestinians, together with not less than 4 gunmen and 4 civilians, and wounded greater than 100 folks throughout a Wednesday raid on a metropolis within the occupied West Financial institution, witnesses, militant teams and medical officers mentioned.
The Israeli army confirmed the operation in Nablus, saying troops shot again after coming below fireplace whereas making an attempt to detain militants suspected of planning imminent assaults. There have been no Israeli casualties, the military mentioned in an announcement.
The Palestinian militant faction Islamic Jihad mentioned Israeli troops had surrounded two of its Nablus commanders in a home, triggering a conflict that drew in different gunmen. Explosions sounded and youths pelted armoured troop transports with rocks.
Palestinian sources mentioned the 2 Islamic Jihad commanders had been killed together with one other gunman. The fatalities included 4 civilians, amongst them a 72-year-old man and a 14-year-old boy.
The Palestinian Well being Ministry mentioned a 66-year-old man who suffered from fuel inhalation in the course of the raid died in hospital in a while Wednesday. Medical officers mentioned greater than 100 Palestinians had been wounded.
Nablus and close by Jenin have been a spotlight of raids that Israel has intensified over the past yr following a spate of deadly Palestinian road assaults in its cities.
Sixty-two Palestinians, together with gunmen and civilians, have been killed in 2023, the Palestinian well being ministry mentioned. Ten Israelis and a Ukrainian vacationer died in Palestinian assaults in the identical interval, in keeping with Israel’s international ministry.
“We condemn the occupation’s raid into Nablus and we name for an finish to the continued assaults in opposition to our folks,” mentioned Nabil Abu Rudeineh, spokesperson for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
Hamas, one other Palestinian militant group that typically fights alongside Islamic Jihad, mentioned there have been 4 gunmen killed, one from its personal ranks, and hinted at doable reprisals from the Gaza Strip, a territory that it controls.
Sirens rang out early on Thursday morning in southern Israeli cities because the army confirmed six rockets had been fired from Gaza into Israeli territory. Shortly afterwards, explosions had been heard in Gaza and the army confirmed it was putting targets in Gaza however didn’t give extra particulars.
Hamas and Islamic Jihad are sworn to Israel’s destruction however have previously noticed Egyptian-mediated truces with it.
U.S.-sponsored Palestinian statehood talks have been stalled for nearly a decade.
