In the West Bank, six Palestinians and an Israeli officer have been reported dead

In a recent incident in the occupied West Bank, an Israeli force’s operation in the early morning resulted in the deaths of six Palestinians. Concurrently, an Israeli police officer lost her life when a roadside bomb struck her vehicle on Sunday, as confirmed by sources from both sides.

The West Bank has seen a significant increase in violence coinciding with the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Gaza-based Hamas militants. This rise in hostility marks the highest level of unrest in the area in nearly two decades. Israeli forces frequently conduct raids in the West Bank, particularly targeting the Jenin region and its neighboring refugee camp, known for militant activities.

The Palestinian Authority’s Ministry of Health, based in Ramallah, reported that an Israeli attack in Jenin led to the death of six individuals. Separately, the Israeli police confirmed the death of an officer during an operation in the Jenin refugee camp, where three other officers were also wounded. The police statement indicated that the officer was in a vehicle that was hit by an explosive device.

It remains unclear if the deaths of the six Palestinians and the Israeli officer occurred in the same incident.

Early Sunday reports from the official Palestinian news agency Wafa stated that a significant deployment of Israeli forces was taking place in Jenin. The agency reported that the six Palestinians, including four brothers, were killed in an attack by an Israeli drone in Jenin.

Israeli army operations in the Jenin area often lead to exchanges of gunfire with Palestinian militants. The army claims its raids target terrorists, but the Palestinian health ministry has reported civilian casualties as well.

The West Bank has been under Israeli occupation since the 1967 war with Arab states.

Since the beginning of the conflict between Israel and Hamas on October 7, at least 327 people in the West Bank have been killed, either by Israeli soldiers or settlers, according to the Palestinian health ministry.

The Hamas attack on Israel on October 7 allegedly led to approximately 1,140 deaths, most of them civilians, based on an AFP count using official Israeli data. In retaliation, Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, involving both airstrikes and a ground invasion, has reportedly resulted in the deaths of at least 22,722 people, predominantly women and children, as per figures from the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza.