A commander in the Palestinian militant group Hamas was killed on Saturday by an Israeli attack on a vehicle in the occupied West Bank, according to Hamas media. Four other individuals were also reported to have died, according to Palestinian news agency WAFA.
Health officials were quoted in the WAFA story, which said that the identities of the others were unclear.
The West Bank city of Tulkarm was the target of an airstrike, according to the Israeli military. According to Hamas media, one of the commanders of its Tulkarm battalions was slain and a vehicle transporting fighters was hit.
Prior to the start of the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza on October 7, there was an increase in violence in the West Bank. Since then, there have been more Israeli raids into the territory, which is one of those that the Palestinians want for their own state.
After Hezbollah senior military commander Fuad Shukr was murdered by an Israeli strike in Beirut on Wednesday, and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated in Teheran the following day, tensions throughout the region have escalated this week.
As the battle between Israel and the Palestinian militants in Gaza enters its eleventh month, there are growing concerns that the fighting may be spreading throughout the Middle East. One such fear is the murder of key Hamas members, like Haniyeh.
Both Hamas and Iran have declared they will exact revenge on their enemy, Israel, after accusing it of carrying out the murder. Israel hasn’t acknowledged or refuted being to blame for the killing.
Like Hamas, Hezbollah has promised retaliation and is supported by Iran.
