An Israeli airstrike in the occupied West Bank on Friday killed a Palestinian identified by the military as a Hamas operative and two associates, marking a rare instance of Israeli aerial bombardment in the territory. Hamas, however, did not claim the targeted individual, identified as Qais Bitawi, as a member, though Islamic Jihad identified him as a senior operative in its armed wing.
The strike, which targeted a vehicle in the Jenin area of the northern West Bank, prompted condemnation from Hamas. The military stated that Bitawi was involved in directing, funding, and executing attacks against Israeli civilians and security forces, and maintained ties with Hamas members both in Gaza and abroad.
Amidst a surge of militant settler attacks on Palestinians and Israeli military raids, the West Bank, particularly Jenin, has been a focal point of Israeli operations. A significant Israeli assault last year, aimed at militant strongholds, resulted in major disruptions, including the displacement of thousands of Palestinians and extended military presence in some cities, leading to accusations of forced expulsions and potential war crimes by Human Rights Watch, which Israel denies.
The Palestine Red Crescent ambulance service reported that Israeli ground forces raided the strike site, briefly detained medics, and impeded their access to transport the wounded and deceased. The Israeli military has not yet commented on these specific claims.
Separately, in Gaza, health officials reported at least five Palestinians killed in three Israeli strikes on Friday. These incidents included a strike near Deir Al-Balah killing a family of three, a strike on a motorbike in Gaza City killing one, and another strike in Gaza City resulting in one fatality. The Israeli military has not provided comment on these Gaza strikes.
