The Palestinian Health Ministry reported that two Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire in the occupied West Bank overnight and into Wednesday. A 23-year-old man was shot dead in Tulkarem, while a 25-year-old man was killed in a strike on Jenin, where Israel had launched a large operation earlier this month. The ministry does not differentiate between civilians and combatants in its reports, and there was no immediate comment from the Israeli military.
Violence in the West Bank has escalated since Hamas' attack out of the Gaza Strip on October 7, 2023, which sparked the ongoing conflict. The ministry stated that over 800 Palestinians have been killed, with most believed to be militants who died during Israeli arrest raids. However, casualties also include individuals killed during protests and civilian bystanders. Additionally, there has been an increase in settler violence against Palestinians and Palestinian attacks on Israelis since the conflict began.
Arrests Made in East Jerusalem
Israeli authorities announced the arrest of 12 Palestinians in east Jerusalem for celebrating the release of prisoners as part of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement. The arrests were made after videos surfaced showing the men waving Hamas flags and firing guns into the air in celebration. The individuals were detained for violating Israel's prohibition on expressions of joy and identification with Hamas following the ceasefire. Authorities seized Hamas flags, posters, fireworks, a BB gun, and cash during a search.
As part of the ceasefire deal, Hamas is releasing 33 hostages taken in the October 7 attack in exchange for the freedom of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, some of whom are serving life sentences for attacks on Israelis. Palestinians often regard these prisoners as heroes fighting against Israel's occupation of territories they seek for a future state.
