Watch: Israeli Forces Kill 9 Palestinians in Occupied West Bank

On Wednesday, Israel intensified its military operations across the West Bank, resulting in the deaths of at least nine Palestinians and the complete isolation of the city of Jenin, as reported by Palestinian officials. This is part of an ongoing series of daily raids since the conflict escalated from Gaza on October 7.

Palestinian militant factions reported clashes with the Israeli military during these operations. The governor of Jenin communicated via Palestinian radio that Israeli forces had encircled the city, blocking all entry and exit points, disrupting local infrastructure, and restricting access to medical facilities.

The Israeli military acknowledged its activities in the West Bank cities of Jenin and Tulkarem but offered no additional details.

According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, the conflict has resulted in at least 652 Palestinian deaths in the West Bank due to Israeli actions since the Gaza war began more than 10 months ago, with most casualties occurring during these military raids.

Israel defends these operations as essential to dismantle Hamas and other militant groups to protect its citizens from increased attacks since the war’s inception.

In recent incidents, the bodies of seven individuals were received at a hospital in Tubas, and two more in Jenin, with two of the deceased from Jenin identified as Qassam Jabarin, 25, and Asem Balout, 39.

The backdrop of these events is the historical context of the 1967 Mideast war after which Israel took control of the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem, areas the Palestinians claim for a prospective state. Currently, over 500,000 Jewish settlers reside in numerous settlements across the West Bank, possessing Israeli citizenship, while about 3 million Palestinians live under Israeli military governance, with the Palestinian Authority having limited authority over urban areas.

The Gaza war, which erupted on October 7, began when Hamas militants invaded southern Israel, leading to significant casualties and abductions. Israel’s retaliatory strikes have since killed over 40,000 Palestinians, as reported by Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not specify how many were militants. This conflict has displaced approximately 90% of Gaza’s population and caused extensive damage due to aerial bombardments and ground operations.

Recent overnight Israeli airstrikes in Gaza killed at least 16 people, including women and children, primarily around Khan Younis, which has experienced severe bombings for two months. The casualties were verified by reporters at two hospitals.

Efforts by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt to broker a ceasefire have been ongoing for months, aiming to secure the release of remaining hostages. However, these negotiations have faced repeated obstacles, compounded by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s pledge for a decisive victory over Hamas and the militant group’s demands for a lasting ceasefire and complete withdrawal from the contested territories. Despite extensive discussions in Egypt, the dialogue has shifted to Qatar this week without any clear progress.