2 Palestinians Killed, 3 Israelis Injured in West Bank Bombing Attempts

Two Palestinians were killed, and three Israeli soldiers were injured in two separate incidents involving attempted car bombings and related clashes in the occupied West Bank overnight.

According to the Israeli military, the two Palestinians were killed while they were preparing to carry out bombings as an Israeli operation in the West Bank continued for the fourth consecutive day.

Hamas, the Palestinian militant group responsible for the October 7 attack on southern Israel that triggered the ongoing conflict in Gaza, praised a “heroic operation” in the southern West Bank. They stated that the attack occurred at a “sensitive time” as Israeli forces conducted raids in the northern part of the territory.

The Israeli military reported a vehicle explosion at a gas station in the Gush Etzion settlement bloc, describing it as “an attempted car bombing by a terrorist,” who was subsequently killed. An army officer sustained moderate injuries, and a reservist officer responsible for security in a nearby community was slightly injured.

In a separate incident, the security head of the Karmei Zur settlement pursued a “terrorist” who had infiltrated the settlement. The chase ended in a collision, and the terrorist was “neutralized” shortly after. The military added that an explosive device in the terrorist’s vehicle detonated during the confrontation.

Since Wednesday, at least 20 Palestinians, mostly militants, have been killed by the Israeli army in simultaneous raids across several cities in the northern West Bank. The Israeli military has focused much of its recent operations on Jenin and its refugee camps, areas known as strongholds for Palestinian armed groups.

On Saturday morning, continued clashes were heard in Jenin, where the streets were largely deserted except for armored vehicles, one of which blocked access to the government hospital.

Violence in the West Bank has escalated since Hamas’ attack on October 7. The United Nations reported on Wednesday that at least 637 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli troops or settlers in the West Bank since the start of the Gaza war. During the same period, 19 Israelis, including soldiers, have been killed in Palestinian attacks or during military operations, according to Israeli authorities.

Hamas and its ally, Islamic Jihad, have claimed that at least 13 of the 20 Palestinians killed since Wednesday were members of their armed wings.