Israel: Palestinian militants killed in the West Bank

The Israeli army said it had "eliminated" a local Hamas leader and another gunman during an exchange of fire. Israeli forces extended their offensive in the north of the West Bank to other areas in Jenin overnight, the Israeli military added. They had wanted to arrest the local Hamas leader in the area. According to the information, Israeli soldiers and border police also arrested three other wanted suspects.

Palestinian media reported that Israeli forces had initially surrounded a house in the east of the city during the night. They later entered the building and shot a young man. According to the Israeli army, the forces found weapons in the house. The Palestinian Red Crescent rescue service confirmed that the man had been killed by shots fired by the military.

The Palestinian Ministry of Health in Ramallah also reported the death of another 21-year-old man from Israeli fire in an eastern neighborhood of the city. It was not initially clear from the Palestinian reports whether he died in the same incident.

Military offensive in the West Bank for around six weeks

On January 21, Israel launched the largest military offensive in the West Bank for a long time in the city of Jenin, which is considered a stronghold of Palestinian militants. According to the army, it is also taking action against armed groups in other towns in the northern part of the West Bank. According to the UN, tens of thousands of people have since left their homes in the affected areas.

The Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that Israel's army had also extended its operations in Jenin to the east of the city. Israeli bulldozers had also destroyed roads there. Israel often tears up roads in the West Bank in order to disable hidden explosive devices.