Early Monday, the Israeli military launched new incursions into the West Bank following the killing of five Palestinians by its forces. This escalation comes in the wake of the resistance’s launching of the “Al-Aqsa Flood” operation on October 7th. Concurrently, the announcement of the formation of a unified military council for the resistance in the West Bank has been made.
The Palestinian Ministry of Health reported that the number of martyrs in the West Bank cities had risen to five on Sunday, following the martyrdom of two young men by Israeli occupation forces at the northern entrance of the Ramallah and Al-Bireh governorate.
The ministry stated that Suleiman Kanaan, 17 years old, was martyred after being shot directly in the heart with live ammunition, while the occupation authorities informed the Palestinian side of the martyrdom and retention of the body of 16-year-old Khaled Hamidat.
In a statement, the Israeli army stated that it opened fire on “attackers” who had thrown an explosive device at a military base near the city of Ramallah.
The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) mourned the martyrs Khaled Hamidat and Suleiman Kanaan in a press statement, as reported by Palestinian media outlets.
In Ain Sultan refugee camp in the city of Jericho (east of the West Bank), 16-year-old Luay As-Safi was martyred by the occupation forces during their raid on the camp under the pretext of chasing a Palestinian to arrest him.
According to Agence France-Presse, As-Safi was shot by Israeli soldiers despite no confrontations occurring.
In the southern West Bank, young men Ahmad and Jalal Jabarin were martyred by occupation forces near Sair town north of Hebron.
The Israeli army claimed in a statement that a Palestinian vehicle breached a military checkpoint near the settlement of “Metzad,” and alleged that gunmen inside it opened fire on its forces, which responded by killing them.
With these events, the number of martyrs in the West Bank since last October 7th has risen to 352.
The Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades, the military wing of the Fatah movement, announced the formation of a unified military council which will include resistance elements of various names under one unified command to manage battles with the occupation on all fronts.
On the anniversary of the death of its founder in Palestine, Raed al-Karmi, the Brigades reaffirmed their continuation of armed resistance and defense of the Palestinian people.
The military wing of the Fatah movement called on the Palestinian Authority to stop the pursuit and arrest of resistance fighters, and to release those detained by the authority, as well as to support the resistance.
Israeli occupation forces invaded the city of Qalqilya in the western West Bank.
Meanwhile, Al Jazeera’s correspondent reported that occupation forces raided the city of Nablus in the northern West Bank before dawn today, stormed An-Najah University, and arrested several of its students.
In Nablus also, Palestinian sources reported that settlers attacked the outskirts of Burin village and set a car on fire.
Late Sunday evening, Israeli forces invaded the city of Qalqilya and demolished two homes belonging to released prisoners Saleh Abu Saleh and Bassem Yasin.
According to Palestinian activists, a young man was injured by Israeli soldiers’ gunfire in Qalqilya, which is frequently targeted by raids.
The nighttime incursions also included the town of Jericho to the east, and the town of Beit Rima to the northwest of Ramallah city.
In the south of the West Bank, Al Jazeera’s correspondent stated that Israeli forces stormed the city of Yatta south of Hebron from several entrances, as well as the towns of Beit Ummar and az-Zahiriya.
The correspondent also mentioned that the Israeli army raided the city of Bethlehem and searched several homes there.
In addition to the martyrdom of over 350 Palestinians, Israeli occupation forces have arrested more than 5,000 people since the start of the war on Gaza.