Israeli military in disguise rushes West Bank hospital, kills three Palestinians
Israeli forces (Illustrative photo: Getty Images)
Israeli forces, dressed as women and medical workers, conducted a raid on a hospital in the West Bank, resulting in the deaths of three Palestinian militants, according to AP News and Reuters.
The Israeli military asserted that the militants were using the hospital, Ibn Sina Hospital in Jenin, as a hiding place. The military accused one of the targeted militants of transferring weapons and ammunition for a planned attack, supposedly influenced by Hamas's large-scale assault on southern Israel.
The Palestinian Health Ministry condemned the raid, saying that Israeli forces opened fire inside the hospital's wards. The ministry called on the international community to push Israel to stop such operations in hospitals. A hospital representative denied any exchange of fire, characterizing the incident as a targeted killing.
Footage circulating online, purportedly from security cameras in the hospital, showed undercover Israeli forces, some armed, dressed as women with Muslim headscarves or in medical staff attire. The Israeli military justified the operation, stating that militants were exploiting hospitals as hideouts. However, the military did not provide concrete evidence to support the claim that the targeted person was involved in transferring weapons.
The hot war caused a humanitarian catastrophe
Since the initiation of hostilities triggered by a Hamas attack, the toll on Gaza has been severe, with over 26,000 casualties and more than 65,000 wounded, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. The United Nations has declared a humanitarian catastrophe, with 85% of Gaza's population displaced, vast destruction, and a quarter of residents facing starvation.
On January 26, the International Court of Justice ruled Israel must take all measures to prevent genocide in Gaza after South Africa accused the country of Palestinian mass killings amid its hot war with Hamas. However, the court did not demand Israel stop its military actions in the conflict-ridden area, and no immediate ceasefire call was issued as South Africa requested.
The West Bank is another Palestinian territory located within Israel, but it is much larger than the Gaza Strip. The conflict has also spilled over into the West Bank, with increased violence as Israel has cracked down on suspected militants. The Israeli military claims to have arrested nearly 3,000 Palestinians in the West Bank over the past four months.
Israel-Hamas war
On October 7, 2023, Hamas militants invaded Israel, killing over 1,200 people and taking 240 hostages. In response, the Israeli army launched a military operation against the militants in the Gaza Strip.
Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu earlier rejected the terms Hamas proposed to stop the war and free the hostages, as they included Israel pulling out completely and allowing Hamas to stay in control in Gaza. He outlined 3 conditions for ending the war against the Palestinian militants of Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
