Israeli Forces Kill 3 Palestinian Militants in Jenin-West Bank
The escalating conflict in the West Bank reached a critical point this week as ISRAELI FORCES KILLED THREE PALESTINIAN MILITANTS during an early-morning raid near the city of JENIN. This operation, which involved both ground troops and a rare AIRSTRIKE in the occupied territory, underscores the intensifying security crackdown as Israeli forces target militant strongholds. The incident has been branded a successful counter-terrorism measure by Israel, while Palestinian sources condemned the act and confirmed the identities of the deceased men.
Headline Points
• Three Fatalities: Three Palestinian men—identified as Abdullah Mohammed Omar Jalamneh, 27; Qais Ibrahim Mohammed Al-Beitawi, 21; and Ahmed Azmi Aref Nashrati, 29—were killed in the operation.
• Location: The raid took place in the village of Kafr Qud, west of Jenin, a flashpoint area in the northern occupied West Bank.
• Israeli Claim: Israeli authorities stated the men were members of a “terrorist cell” planning an attack and were part of an organization active in the Jenin refugee camp.
• Tactics Used: The operation was carried out by the Israeli police’s elite counter-terrorism unit, Yamam, which used snipers to initially engage the cell. An Israeli military airstrike was subsequently launched to destroy the cave used as a hideout.
• Alleged Affiliation: Hamas claimed in a statement that at least two of the killed men were members of its militant group.
• Escalating Violence: This incident marks one of the most significant and intense operations in the West Bank this month, reflecting a broader escalation of military activities in the region since the conflict in Gaza began.
Details of the Targeted Operation
The operation commenced at dawn on Tuesday when Israeli forces, including the Yamam counter-terrorism unit, stormed the village of Kafr Qud, near Jenin, which has long been a center of militant activity. Acting on intelligence, the forces surrounded a remote area where the cell was believed to be hiding.
According to statements released by the Israeli police and military, the forces spotted members of the cell emerging from a cave that they had been using as a hideout. Yamam snipers opened fire, resulting in the immediate killing of two men and the wounding of a third, who was neutralized shortly afterward.
Following the ground engagement, the military ordered an airstrike on the cave itself to ensure the destruction of the “terrorist hideout.”
Local reports confirmed that the blast and resulting fire damaged a vehicle belonging to one of the men and set fire to nearby olive trees, causing concern among the predominantly agricultural community. The Israeli military further stated that the men who were killed “took part in terror activity in Jenin,” though specific details of the planned attack were not immediately released.
Identities and Palestinian Response
The Palestinian Ministry of Health, based in Ramallah, confirmed the deaths of the three young men.
They were identified as Abdullah Mohammed Omar Jalamneh, 27; Qais Ibrahim Mohammed Al-Beitawi, 21; and Ahmed Azmi Aref Nashrati, 29. The bodies of the three men were reportedly detained by the Israeli forces following the operation—a practice often decried by human rights activists and local families as a punitive measure.
The Hamas militant group released a statement acknowledging that at least two of the deceased were its members and confirming that the men were killed after an armed clash with the Israeli forces.
The Palestinian official news agency, WAFA, reported that Israeli forces stormed the village with heavy military reinforcements and fired live bullets before seizing the bodies of the young men.
Intensification of West Bank Raids
The use of an airstrike in this operation is particularly notable, as such aerial assaults in the West Bank had become relatively uncommon prior to the last two years.
This tactic highlights the intensified and increasingly aggressive nature of Israeli military operations in the northern West Bank, particularly in and around Jenin, which the Israeli military views as a major center for armed groups.
The violence across the West Bank has intensified significantly since the start of 2024, with near-daily Israeli military raids and a sharp increase in casualties.
The United Nations has previously noted that the number of Palestinians killed in the West Bank has dramatically risen, with thousands injured and displaced from their homes. Israeli officials maintain that these operations are necessary to conduct “counterterrorism operations” and to dismantle militant cells planning attacks against Israeli citizens and soldiers.
The persistent and escalating cycle of violence in the Jenin area continues to fuel tensions across the occupied territories, risking wider unrest and complicating all diplomatic efforts aimed at de-escalation in the broader region.
