Israel kill senior Hamas leader amid series of deadly raids on West Bank

Palestinians check a damaged car following a military operation in the West Bank town of Zababdeh. Credit: AP

The Israeli military claims to have killed three more militants in ongoing attacks on the occupied West Bank, bringing the total of people killed since Tuesday in the territory to 19.

The simultaneous raids across the northern West Bank mark the deadliest since recent conflict began on October 7.

The Israeli military said its troops identified and killed a senior leader of Hamas in Jenin, Waseem Khazem, while he was driving on Friday.

When two others in the car — whom the military also identified as militants — attempted to flee, troops killed both in an airstrike.

The Palestinian Health Ministry said the three were killed in Zababdeh, a town south of Jenin city, but did not immediately confirm their identities.

Mohammed Jaber, a well-known commander in the Islamic Jihad militant group in the Nur Shams refugee camp, was killed on Thursday.

According to Israel's military, Jaber - also known as Abu Shujaa - was killed along with four other militants.

It claimed he was linked to numerous attacks on Israelis, including a deadly shooting in June, and was planning more.

Earlier this year, he was reported killed in an Israeli operation, only to make a surprise appearance at the funeral of other militants, where he was hoisted onto the shoulders of a cheering crowd.

ITV News' Cari Davies explains where the West Bank is, who lives there, and why it has long been a flashpoint of violence

Ten Hamas militants were killed on Wednesday after Israeli forces entered the cities of Jenin and Tulkarem, and launched a missile strike on the Al-Faraa refugee camp.

The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) has carried out near-daily raids across the West Bank since Hamas' October 7 attack on Israel triggered the ongoing war in Gaza.

It claims the most recent spate of attacks aims to root out militants in the area, and to prevent attacks on Israeli citizens.

A statement released UK Foreign Office spokesperson said: "The UK is deeply concerned by the ongoing IDF military operation in the occupied West Bank.

"We recognise 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.

"The risk of instability is serious and the need for de-escalation urgent."

Members of Israeli forces patrol a street during a military operation in the West Bank refugee camp of Nur Shams. Credit: AP

Meanwhile, the US has announced sanctions against an Israeli organisation, Hashomer Yosh, allegedly responsible for supporting settler violence in the West Bank against Palestinians.

The US stated that after 250 Palestinian residents of a West Bank village were forced to leave, Hashomer Yosh volunteers fenced off the village to prevent residents from returning.

Officials also sanctioned an Israeli individual, Yitzhak Levi Filant, who allegedly “led a group of armed settlers to set up roadblocks and conduct patrols to pursue and attack Palestinians in their lands and forcefully expel them from their lands” in February.

Subscribe free to our weekly newsletter for exclusive and original coverage from ITV News. Direct to your inbox every Friday morning.

Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories? Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know...