A recent Israeli airstrike in Jenin, a city in the West Bank, led to the deaths of two high-ranking Hamas militants, Ahmed Abu Ara and Rafet Dawasi. This operation was confirmed by both the Israel Security Agency and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), as reported by Reuters.
The Israeli authorities stated that these militants were linked to a deadly shooting that occurred on August 11, which resulted in the death of an Israeli civilian, Yonatan Deutsch, in the Jordan Valley. Hamas’s military wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, acknowledged the deaths, highlighting their role in the aforementioned attack where their operatives allegedly killed an Israeli soldier before retreating.
This airstrike is part of a troubling trend of increased violence in the West Bank, particularly since the conflict in Gaza escalated. On Thursday, separate incidents saw Israeli settlers attacking a village near Qalqilya, resulting in at least one Palestinian death—an act condemned by several Western nations, including the US, UK, and France.
Amidst this violence, President Joe Biden’s administration seeks to revive failed ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas. The ongoing conflict has already claimed approximately 1,200 lives and taken around 240 hostages, while Gaza’s death toll has reportedly exceeded 40,000, according to health officials in the territory.
The increasing violence raises concerns about the potential for broader regional conflict, potentially drawing in Iran and its regional allies like Hezbollah and the Houthis. In response, peace talks are set to resume next week in Doha, Qatar, aimed at ending the ongoing hostilities. However, the recent surge in violence clouds the potential for these negotiations.
Israel asserts that its military operations in the West Bank are crucial for countering terrorism and safeguarding its citizens. In contrast, Palestinian groups argue that such measures only exacerbate tensions and contribute to a troubling cycle of violence.
Since the onset of the Gaza war in October, violent incidents in the West Bank have surged. Both Israeli raids and attacks from Palestinian militants and settlers have increased significantly. As negotiators gather in Doha, they must navigate the immediate violence while striving for a long-term resolution to this deeply rooted conflict—an endeavor made increasingly challenging by the current climate of unrest.