Why and how did 205 Palestinians lose their lives in the West Bank conflict?

In the West Bank on Friday, Israeli forces murdered five Palestinians, including three terrorists, adding to the growing carnage in the occupied territory that has accompanied Israel’s war in Gaza.

With these latest fatalities, the total number of Palestinians killed in violence in the West Bank since the Gaza crisis started on October 7 has reached 205, making this the bloodiest period in the region since the early 2000s.

Israel asserts that Hamas, the ruling party in Gaza, and other militant groups operating in the West Bank are the targets of the crackdown. Rights organizations allege, however, that Israeli practices—such as violent raids, home demolitions, and arrests—are growing increasingly frequent.

Terrorists from Hamas broke out from Gaza into Israel on October 7, killing at least 1,200 people and capturing 240 others. Health officials in the Hamas-ruled area claim that over 11,000 people have died in Gaza as a result of an Israeli-initiated war, the great majority of whom were civilians. Israel has cracked down on alleged militants in the West Bank at the same time.

Local media report that Israeli military trucks and bulldozers entered the Jenin refugee camp on Thursday night and stationed snipers on top of many houses, sparking the start of fresh combat. Numerous locations had gunfights that drew Hamas terrorists.

The Israeli military claims that at one point, terrorists who were throwing bombs at Israeli forces were struck by an Israeli aircraft. Since the start of the war, airstrikes—which were unusual in the past on the West Bank—have become increasingly frequent. After three people were killed, members of the extremist organization Islamic Jihad were identified.

Health officials in Palestine report that at least fifteen people were hurt, four of them seriously. Patients streamed into the emergency room of the nearby Ibn Sina Hospital. But Israeli forces trailed behind.

Israeli forces killed five Palestinians, including three labeled as terrorists, across the West Bank on Friday. This incident is part of a recent surge in violence linked to Israel’s operations in Gaza. Since the beginning of the conflict in Gaza on October 7, the death toll in the West Bank has risen to 205, marking this as the most violent period in the region since the early 2000s.

Israel’s actions are aimed at targeting Hamas, the ruling party in Gaza, and other militant groups operating in the West Bank. However, human rights organizations have criticized the Israeli tactics, which include aggressive raids, demolitions of homes, and arrests, as increasingly harsh.

The conflict intensified on October 7 when Hamas militants from Gaza launched attacks into Israel, resulting in at least 1,200 deaths and 240 kidnappings. The ensuing war, according to Gaza’s health officials, has led to over 11,000 deaths in Gaza, predominantly civilians. Concurrently, Israel has intensified its crackdown on suspected militants in the West Bank.

The latest confrontation started on Thursday night when Israeli military forces entered the Jenin refugee camp. This incursion triggered gunfights in various locations and involved Hamas militants. During these clashes, Israeli forces used airstrikes, a tactic that has become more frequent since the war’s onset, killing three individuals claimed as members by the militant group Islamic Jihad.

Palestinian health officials reported at least 15 injuries, with four in critical condition. The situation escalated as Israeli forces pursued patients and medical staff to the nearby Ibn Sina Hospital. Despite the military demanding that medical personnel evacuate, the hospital’s staff stayed to tend to the severely injured and dying patients.

In an unprecedented move in the Jenin camp, known for its dense population and militant activities, Israeli forces ordered emergency room staff out at gunpoint. Israel defended this action by claiming to search for militants allegedly hiding in ambulances, a tactic it has accused militants in Gaza of using previously. Despite the increasing tension and the grim situation in Gaza, Dr. Tawfeeq Al-Shobaki, the head surgeon at Ibn Sina Hospital, expressed a cautious yet uncertain outlook for the future.

On Friday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported that they neutralized two Palestinian individuals who had opened fire on Israeli soldiers in Hebron, a city in the southern part of the West Bank. This incident followed a separate attack the previous day, where three Palestinian assailants killed an Israeli soldier and wounded three others at a West Bank checkpoint, before being killed themselves.

The Israeli military disclosed that it had already conducted reconnaissance on the homes of the attackers involved in the checkpoint assault, a step usually preceding demolition. Israel defends this practice, asserting that demolishing the homes of attackers acts as a deterrent against future attacks. However, this policy has been widely criticized by Palestinian rights groups, which denounce it as a form of collective punishment.

Jessica Montell, the executive director of HaMoked, an Israeli organization providing legal aid to Palestinians, commented on the speed of the Israeli military’s response in such situations. She observed that when the identity of the attacker is clear, Israeli authorities act swiftly, noting an increased promptness in their recent actions.