The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) conducted a drone strike on Monday night in the Nur Shams refugee camp near Tulkarem in the West Bank, resulting in the deaths of five individuals. According to the IDF, the strike targeted a command room used by local terror operatives, though specific details on the operations conducted from the location were not immediately provided.
Among those killed was Jibril Jibril, a member of Hamas who had been previously released by Israel in a prisoner exchange deal with the Gaza-based militant group in November. Palestinian media reports indicate that Jibril had a history of involvement in violent activities, including hurling explosive devices and stone-throwing.
The Palestinian Authority’s health ministry confirmed the fatalities, with local sources reporting that the strike targeted a house within the camp. Witnesses in the area reported hearing four loud explosions following the drone attack.
This strike is part of a broader Israeli military campaign in the West Bank, which has seen over 60 airstrikes carried out since October 7, 2023. The IDF has used a combination of drones, attack helicopters, and fighter jets in these operations, aimed at dismantling what it describes as terrorist infrastructure in the region.
In addition to the airstrike, IDF troops conducted searches around the Tapuach Junction on the same night, following reports of a suspected kidnapping. However, the military later ruled out any abduction.
The ongoing conflict in the West Bank has led to significant casualties on both sides. According to the Palestinian Authority health ministry, more than 630 Palestinians have been killed since October 7, with the IDF asserting that the majority were gunmen, rioters, or individuals involved in attacks. During the same period, 27 people, including Israeli security personnel, have been killed in terror attacks in Israel and the West Bank, with five members of Israeli security forces killed in clashes with terror operatives.
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