Israeli soldiers killed a Hamas commander in the West Bank city of Jenin as they continued a weeks-long offensive against militant factions in the area that has forced tens of thousands of Palestinians to leave.
The military claimed it conducted a raid to apprehend Aysar al-Saadi, the chief of the Hamas network in the area, and killed him in a gunfight in which another Hamas agent was also killed.
Three other Hamas members were apprehended, the report added.
The Gaza-based militant group, which has also established a strong presence in the occupied West Bank, confirmed al-Saadi’s death but stated that it will not change its resolve to fighting Israel.
The West Bank operation, which began in January as fighting was halted in Gaza following a ceasefire agreement brokered by Qatar and Egypt, has been one of the biggest mounted in the area in years and followed a surge in violence since the start of the war in Gaza in 2023.
Thousands of Israeli troops have swept through refugee camps in Jenin and other cities in the northern part of the West Bank, including Tulkarm and Tubas, demolishing houses and infrastructure and forcing tens of thousands to leave taking only what they could carry with them.
The military pushed out of the now-deserted Jenin refugee camp and into eastern areas of the city of Jenin itself, cutting off power supplies and digging up roads.
The military claims it does not forcibly evacuate Palestinians, but it has let inhabitants who wish to leave battle areas to do so through approved crossings.
Palestinians claim that Israeli operations have cut off water and electricity supply and destroyed scores of homes, forcing residents to flee.
