Hamas reported the death of one of its commanders in the occupied West Bank following a clash with Israeli forces.
In a statement issued late on Monday, Hamas confirmed that Mohammed Jaber Abdo, along with three other fighters, was killed in a village near Ramallah, the headquarters of the Western-backed Palestinian Authority.
An earlier joint statement by the Israeli army and police mentioned that undercover forces had located a suspect wanted for an attack on a nearby Jewish settlement.
Violence in the West Bank has escalated since the onset of the conflict in Gaza, which was triggered by Hamas’ incursion into southern Israel on Oct. 7.
According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, over 530 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in the West Bank since then, most of them during violent protests or Israeli arrest raids that often lead to gunfights.
Earlier in the day, the U.N. Security Council overwhelmingly endorsed a U.S. resolution that supports a cease-fire proposal between Israel and Hamas.
Israel’s conflict with Hamas in Gaza has resulted in the deaths of more than 36,730 people, as reported by Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not differentiate between combatants and civilians in its count. Palestinians are now facing widespread famine as the conflict has severely disrupted the flow of essential supplies like food and medicine. U.N. agencies warn that over 1 million people in Gaza could face the risk of starvation by mid-July.
Israel initiated the conflict following Hamas’ incursion on Oct. 7, during which militants entered southern Israel, resulting in the deaths of around 1,200 people—mostly civilians—and the abduction of approximately 250 individuals.
Current developments include:
— Blinken returns to the Middle East as the Israel-Hamas cease-fire proposal hangs in the balance after a hostage rescue
— How an Israeli raid freed 4 hostages and resulted in at least 274 Palestinian casualties in Gaza
— What do Israel’s rescue of 4 captives, and the death of 274 Palestinians, mean for truce negotiations?
— Centrist Benny Gantz is resigning from Israel’s war Cabinet, citing frustrations with Netanyahu
Stay updated with AP’s coverage of the Gaza conflict at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war
Here’s the latest:
HAMAS COMMANDER KILLED IN WEST BANK
RAMALLAH, West Bank — Hamas confirms the death of one of its commanders in the occupied West Bank following a clash with Israeli forces.
In a statement released late on Monday, Hamas stated that Mohammed Jaber Abdo, along with three other fighters, was killed in a village near Ramallah, the headquarters of the Western-backed Palestinian Authority. The statement mentioned that Abdo had spent 20 years in Israeli prisons.
According to an earlier joint statement by the Israeli army and police, undercover forces had located a suspect wanted for an attack on a nearby Jewish settlement.
The statement mentioned that the suspect was hiding in a compound with three accomplices and that the forces resorted to gunfire when they attempted to run them over with a car. Weapons were found in the car.
Violence in the West Bank has escalated since the onset of the conflict in Gaza, which was triggered by Hamas’ incursion into southern Israel on Oct. 7.
According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, over 530 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces since then, most of them during violent protests or Israeli arrest raids that often lead to gunfights.
Israel gained control of the West Bank, Gaza, and east Jerusalem in the 1967 Mideast war. The Palestinians seek all three territories for their prospective state.
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