ISRAEL has expanded its assaults in the occupied West Bank, killing five people including a pregnant woman.
The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) opened fire during a raid in the Palestinian territory’s Nur Shams refugee camp, killing 23-year-old Sondos Jamal Muhammad Shalabi and critically injuring her husband, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.
The ministry said medical teams were unable to save the fetus due to the IDF preventing them from transferring the injured couple to a hospital.
In a separate statement on Sunday, they added that a 21-year-old woman, Rahaf Fouad Abdullah al-Ashqar, was also killed.
Violence has surged in the West Bank during the war and intensified in recent days with an Israeli military operation in the territory’s north.
Israel’s military said its police had opened an investigation.
Israel’s defence minister Israel Katz announced on Sunday the expansion of the operation, which started in Jenin several weeks ago.
He said it was meant to prevent Iran – allied with Hamas – from establishing a foothold in the West Bank.
On Sunday, civil defence first responders in Gaza also said that a further three people were killed by Israeli fire east of Gaza City.
Israel’s military noted “several hits” after warning shots were fired and again warned Palestinians from approaching its forces.
A convoy of cars piled with belongings headed north through a road that crosses Netzarim.
Under the deal, Israel should allow cars to cross uninspected.
Troops remain along Gaza’s borders with Israel and Egypt.
Hamas spokesperson Abdel Latif Al-Qanoua said the troops’ withdrawal showed the militant group had “forced the enemy to submit to our demands” and that it thwarted “Netanyahu’s illusion of achieving total victory”.
Israel has said it will not agree to a complete withdrawal from Gaza until Hamas’s military and political capabilities are eliminated.
Hamas says it will not hand over the last hostages until Israel removes all troops from the territory.
During the ceasefire’s 42-day first phase, Hamas is gradually releasing 33 Israeli hostages captured during its October 7 2023 attack in exchange for the release of nearly 2000 Palestinian prisoners and a flood of humanitarian aid to Gaza.
