Authorities reported that the Israeli military conducted an airstrike in the West Bank city of Jenin on Friday, marking the third day of intense fighting in the Palestinian territory. The Israeli military stated that the strike targeted a 'terrorist cell' during a counterterrorism operation in the area, without providing further details.
While such airstrikes have been common during the Israel-Hamas conflict in the Gaza Strip, they have been infrequent in the West Bank until now. Israel has launched raids across the northern West Bank, resulting in the deaths of 16 individuals, mostly militants, since late Tuesday. Israeli officials claim these operations are aimed at preventing potential attacks, while Palestinians view them as an extension of the conflict in Gaza and an attempt to maintain Israel's military control over the territory.
The Palestinian Health Ministry has reported that more than 650 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank since the beginning of the war. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for an immediate cessation of Israel's military operations in the West Bank and urged the government to prioritize the protection of civilians.
US Criticizes Israel for Attacks on UN Vehicles in Gaza
In a rare rebuke, the United States strongly condemned Israel's targeting of United Nations vehicles and demanded an end to assaults and threatening behavior towards the U.N. and humanitarian organizations. During a U.N. Security Council meeting addressing the humanitarian situation in Gaza, the U.S. deputy ambassador highlighted Israel's repeated firing at a clearly marked U.N. food agency vehicle, which sustained multiple bullet hits despite having received prior clearance from Israeli authorities.
Following the incident, the World Food Program announced a temporary suspension of all staff movements in Gaza. The U.N. spokesperson confirmed that WFP convoys and personnel remain on hold, although they are in communication with humanitarian partners delivering aid in the region. The U.S. expressed concern over the WFP incident and noted that Israel attributed it to a 'communication error' among military units.
Additionally, UNICEF reported that two of its vehicles were fired upon with live ammunition while waiting at a designated checkpoint near Wadi Gaza, where they were facilitating the reunion of five children with their father. This marked the second shooting involving a UNICEF vehicle in the past 12 weeks.
