Three Palestinians killed in Israeli strike in northern West Bank

Three Palestinians have been killed during an Israeli military operation in the northern West Bank town of Kafr Qud, involving both ground fire and an aerial strike that represents the first such air attack in the occupied territory in nine months. According to local sources, Israeli forces surrounded agricultural land in the Jenin governorate community before opening fire on three individuals, whose bodies were subsequently removed by the military.

Military Operation Details

The Israeli military confirmed conducting the operation, stating it targeted what it described as "a terrorist cell" and resulted in three fatalities plus one injury. Witnesses reported hearing initial gunfire near Kafr Qud followed by an airstrike that targeted both a cave and a vehicle in the same area. The subsequent explosion ignited a fire that spread to nearby olive trees, damaging agricultural property in the predominantly farming community.

Escalating West Bank Violence

This incident marks the first Israeli airstrike conducted in the West Bank since military operations intensified in the region nine months ago. Since January, the Israeli army has maintained large-scale military activities across northern West Bank refugee camps, resulting in numerous Palestinian casualties, widespread displacement of residents, and extensive destruction of residential infrastructure and property.

Broader Context and Casualty Figures

The violence occurs against a backdrop of escalating Israeli military operations across the occupied West Bank since October 2023. According to Palestinian documentation, these operations have resulted in more than 1,059 Palestinian fatalities and approximately 10,300 injuries throughout the territory, reflecting a significant intensification of military engagement in the West Bank alongside ongoing hostilities in Gaza.