Israeli forces killed Wassem Hazem, a local Hamas commander in Jenin, marking the third day of a major Israeli operation in the West Bank, Reuters reports.
Hazem, identified as the head of Hamas in Jenin, was reportedly involved in attacks against Israeli targets in the area. Two other Hamas gunmen were killed by a drone strike as they attempted to flee in a car, with the Israeli military discovering weapons, explosives, and cash in the vehicle. The operation has resulted in at least 17 Palestinian deaths in its first two days, including a commander of the Islamic Jihad in Tulkarm.
The escalation comes amidst ongoing conflict between Israeli forces and Hamas in Gaza, and recent clashes with Hezbollah along the Israel-Lebanon border. Since the Hamas attack on Israel last October, over 660 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank, including both militants and civilians.
