ZABABDEH, West Bank. Israeli forces have killed a top Hamas commander, Wassem Hazem, in the restive city of Jenin, as they continue a major military operation in the occupied West Bank. This marks the third day of intensified actions aimed at disrupting militant activity in the region, the Israeli military reported.
Wassem Hazem, described by the Israeli military as the head of Hamas operations in Jenin, was targeted due to his involvement in orchestrating shooting and bombing attacks within Palestinian territories. The military stated that Hazem, along with two other Hamas militants, was traveling in a vehicle when they were intercepted by Israeli Border Police. While Hazem was killed on the spot, the other two militants attempted to flee but were eliminated by a drone strike. The vehicle they were in was found to contain weapons, explosives, and large amounts of cash.
Hamas has confirmed the deaths of all three men, identifying them as members of its Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of the organization.
In Zababdeh, a village near Jenin, residents described the aftermath of the operation. A burnt-out, bullet-riddled car was left at the scene where the Israeli special forces cornered the militants. Saif Ghannam, a local villager, recounted that one of the militants was killed by a drone strike just outside his home, causing significant damage to the surrounding area.
The ongoing operation, which began early Wednesday, involves hundreds of Israeli troops and police units pushing into key areas such as Jenin, Tulkarm, and the Jordan Valley. Armored personnel carriers, helicopters, and drones have been deployed, while armored bulldozers have been used to clear roads of explosives planted by militants.
This escalation in the West Bank is occurring against the backdrop of continued fighting between Israeli forces and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, now nearing its 11th month, and increasing tensions with Hezbollah along the Israel-Lebanon border.
Over the first two days of the West Bank operation, at least 17 Palestinians were killed, including a senior commander of the Iranian-backed Islamic Jihad in Tulkarm.
Since the outbreak of the Gaza conflict last October, more than 660 Palestinians—both combatants and civilians—have been killed in the West Bank, according to Palestinian sources. These deaths have resulted from clashes with Israeli forces and attacks by Jewish settlers on Palestinian communities.
Israel has accused Iran of supplying weapons and support to militant groups in the West Bank, which has been under Israeli occupation since the 1967 Middle East war. This accusation has led to increased military operations in the region.
On Friday, the British government expressed deep concern over Israel’s actions in the West Bank, calling for immediate de-escalation. “We recognize Israel’s need to defend itself against security threats, but we are deeply worried by the methods Israel has employed and by reports of civilian casualties and the destruction of civilian infrastructure,” stated a spokesperson for the British Foreign Office.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
