The Israeli military has reported the killing of five militants in a significant operation in the occupied West Bank. Among those killed was Mohammed Jaber, also known as Abu Shujaa, a prominent local commander associated with the Islamic Jihad militant group in the Nur Shams refugee camp near Tulkarem.
Abu Shujaa had gained recognition among Palestinians earlier this year when he was believed to have been killed in an Israeli operation but later appeared at the funeral of other militants, receiving a hero's welcome from the crowd.
The military stated that Abu Shujaa and four other militants were engaged in a shootout with Israeli forces after taking refuge inside a mosque. Abu Shujaa was allegedly involved in various attacks on Israelis, including a fatal shooting incident in June, and was reportedly planning further assaults.
During the operation, another militant was apprehended, and a member of Israel's Border Police sustained minor injuries.
Israel initiated a large-scale operation in the West Bank following increased violence since Hamas launched an attack from Gaza on October 7. Hamas has reported the deaths of 10 of its fighters in various locations, while the Palestinian Health Ministry confirmed an 11th casualty without specifying whether the individual was a combatant or a civilian.
Nur Shams is one of several densely populated refugee camps established across the Middle East after the 1948 war surrounding Israel's establishment, with many of these camps serving as strongholds for militant groups.
The West Bank, along with the Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem, was captured by Israel in the 1967 Mideast conflict. The Palestinians seek these territories for their envisioned future state. Currently, the 3 million Palestinians residing in the West Bank are under Israeli military control, with the Palestinian Authority overseeing local governance. Additionally, more than 500,000 Jewish settlers, considered illegal by most of the international community, reside in over 100 settlements throughout the territory.
For more updates on the ongoing conflict, visit AP's war coverage.
