At least 4 Palestinians are killed as Israeli troops clash with Palestinian militants in West Bank

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Israeli-Palestinian Clash in West Bank Claims Lives of Four Palestinians, Including Teenager

In a clash between Israeli troops and Palestinian militants in the city of Jenin, West Bank, four Palestinians were killed, including a 15-year-old boy, according to officials. Israeli helicopter gunships were deployed, marking a rare use of airpower in the territory. The violence erupted when Palestinian militants detonated a roadside bomb near an Israeli military vehicle, resulting in at least 45 Palestinians wounded, five of them seriously. The Israeli military reported that seven members of the paramilitary border police and the army sustained light to moderate injuries.

This incident adds to the ongoing cycle of violence that has plagued the West Bank for over a year. The Israeli military stated that the troops faced intense gunfire during an arrest operation in Jenin and responded by engaging the Palestinian gunmen. As the security forces left the city, one of their vehicles was struck by an explosive device, leading to damage. In support of the extraction of the forces, helicopters opened fire at the gunmen.

Israeli military spokesman Lt. Col. Richard Hecht explained that, following the initial exchange of fire, additional troops were dispatched to the area to evacuate personnel who were trapped in five disabled vehicles. He described it as an “evacuation” operation and stated that heavy equipment was being brought in to remove the vehicles.

Amateur video footage from Jenin, although unconfirmed, seemed to show a roadside explosive targeting an Israeli armored vehicle. Another online video appeared to depict an Israeli military helicopter launching a rocket during the ongoing operation. The Israeli military rarely employs aircraft in its operations in the occupied West Bank, and Israeli media reported that this was the first use of an attack helicopter in the territory since the early 2000s Palestinian uprising.

The Palestinian Health Ministry identified the deceased as Khaled Asasa (21), Qassam Abu Sariya (29), Qais Jabarin (21), and 15-year-old Ahmed Saqr. Additionally, five others remained in serious condition after sustaining injuries in the gunfight. Hussein al-Shekh, a senior Palestinian official, accused Israel of waging “a fierce and open war” against the Palestinian people and announced that President Mahmoud Abbas would make “unprecedented decisions” in an upcoming emergency meeting.

Egypt’s Foreign Ministry condemned what it labeled as Israel’s “continued escalation against the Palestinians,” asserting that it only exacerbated the situation and undermined efforts to reduce regional tensions.

Over the past months, Israel and the Palestinians have been mired in violence, primarily concentrated in the West Bank, where 124 Palestinians have lost their lives this year. Jenin, in particular, has become a hotspot for Palestinian militancy.

Israel gained control of the West Bank, along with east Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip, in the 1967 Mideast war. The Palestinians aim to establish a future independent state in these territories.

Responding to a surge in Palestinian violence last year, Israel has been conducting near-nightly raids in the West Bank. While Israel claims that the majority of those killed were militants, there have been instances where non-confrontational individuals, including stone-throwing protesters, have also lost their lives.

This year alone, Palestinian attacks against Israelis have resulted in the deaths of at least 20 people.

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More about Israeli-Palestinian conflict

• BBC News: Israeli troops clash with Palestinian militants in West Bank
• Al Jazeera: Israeli helicopter gunships strike targets in West Bank
• Reuters: Israeli troops clash with militants in West Bank, casualties reported
• The Guardian: Four Palestinians killed in West Bank clash with Israeli troops