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Israeli Airstrike Kills Hamas Operative, Two Others in West Bank

Israeli Airstrike Kills Hamas Operative, Two Others in West Bank. Source: Evanessa/Shutterstock

An Israeli airstrike killed a Hamas operative and two other people in the occupied West Bank on Friday, marking a relatively rare use of deadly air power in the territory amid heightened Israeli-Palestinian violence.

The Israeli military said the strike targeted a vehicle near Jenin in the northern West Bank and identified the main target as Qais Bitawi. Hamas confirmed Bitawi was a member and condemned the attack, while the allied Palestinian Islamic Jihad group also claimed him as one of its members.

According to Israel’s military, Bitawi was involved in organizing, financing and carrying out attacks against Israeli civilians and security personnel. Officials also alleged that he maintained connections with Hamas members in Gaza and abroad.

The Palestine Red Crescent said Israeli ground forces entered the location following the drone strike, temporarily detained ambulance crews and prevented medics from transporting the dead and wounded to a hospital. The Israeli military did not immediately respond to those allegations.

Tensions across the West Bank have intensified, with Palestinians facing Israeli military raids and attacks by Israeli settlers. Jenin and other parts of the northern West Bank have been frequent targets of Israeli operations against what the military describes as Palestinian militant strongholds.

Israeli operations launched in northern West Bank areas in 2025 displaced thousands of Palestinians, including residents of refugee camps. Human Rights Watch has accused Israel of war crimes and crimes against humanity involving forced expulsions, allegations that Israel denies.

Violence also continued in Gaza on Friday as U.S. officials worked to revive negotiations aimed at securing the disarmament of Hamas in exchange for an Israeli withdrawal.

Gaza health officials said at least five Palestinians were killed in three separate Israeli strikes. Three members of one family were reportedly killed near Deir Al-Balah, while another strike on a motorcycle killed one person in Gaza City. A separate Gaza City attack killed another Palestinian.

The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the reported Gaza strikes.

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