Tensions in the West Bank continue to rise as Israeli troops killed three alleged Palestinian militants near the Jenin refugee camp. The incident adds to a wave of violence that saw the deaths of two others, including a young Palestinian man allegedly shot by extremist Jewish settlers over the weekend.
The Israeli army reported that the three men were shot after exiting the Jenin camp, and they were believed to be on their way to carry out an attack. An M-16 rifle was recovered from their vehicle. The militant groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad condemned the killings, but their affiliation with the three men remains unknown, as reported by AP.
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The Jenin camp, known as a militant stronghold, was the site of a large-scale military operation last month, resulting in 12 Palestinian deaths, including at least eight militants, and significant damage to the area. The recent violence reflects a broader wave of unrest that has persisted since early 2022, with tensions heightened by the hard-line government in Israel dominated by ultranationalist West Bank settler leaders.
Israeli voices are expressing concern about the government's role in exacerbating the situation, with some pointing to settler violence as a strategic threat. The recent incidents of armed settlers storming a Palestinian village and killing a 19-year-old man have further fueled the tension. Settler attacks on Palestinian civilians have increased in recent months, with some commentators warning of the dangers posed by these actions.
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As violence continues to escalate in the northern West Bank, the toll on human lives grows. More than 160 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire this year in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, with at least 26 people killed in Palestinian attacks against Israelis.
