Israeli commandos kill 3 militants in West Bank hospital raid

The Israeli military accused one of the deceased, whom Hamas identified as its member, of planning an imminent attack. Islamic Jihad, an allied faction, claimed the other two, one of whom was receiving treatment for leg paralysis.

Israel's border police stated that the Palestinians were killed by the force's undercover unit. CCTV footage circulated online shows about a dozen undercover troops, including some disguised as women and medical staff, moving through a hospital corridor with rifles. Police Minister of Israel shared this clip on social media. The military identified one of the men as Mohammed Jalamneh, 27, from Jenin, alleging his connection with Hamas headquarters abroad and plans for an attack inspired by the October 7th massacre.

This incident follows Hamas' surprise raid into southern Israel on October 7, which escalated into Israel's assault on the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, intensifying violence in the West Bank. The military claims the other two Palestinians, killed in the hospital, were involved in recent attacks. The military justified Jalamneh's killing, stating he used the hospital as a hideout.

Israel has long accused Hamas of using Gaza's hospitals and civilian areas for military purposes, which Hamas denies. The Israeli military criticized this as a cynical exploitation of civilian spaces. Beneath Gaza City lies an extensive network of Hamas-built tunnels, some hidden in bombed buildings, sandy dunes, or private homes.

In a recent offensive, Israel targeted Gaza City, resulting in casualties and damages from air strikes, tank shelling, and naval fire. Hamas resumed rocket fire into Israeli cities, showing its continued capability despite the ongoing conflict. According to the Gaza health ministry, Israeli strikes in the past 24 hours have resulted in 215 Palestinian deaths and 300 injuries.

Despite Israel's claims of focusing on northern Gaza, the renewed push in Gaza City, especially near Al-Shifa Hospital, indicates a deviation from the initial plan. Hamas militants killed 1,200 Israelis and took 253 hostages on October 7; over 100 hostages remain captive. The Gaza health ministry reports 26,637 Palestinian deaths and 65,000 injuries from Israeli strikes since then. Israel states it has killed approximately 9,000 Palestinian combatants and lost 221 soldiers.

Amidst these developments, the United States vowed to defend its forces following a drone attack in Jordan that killed three U.S. troops. Qatar expressed hope that U.S. retaliation would not destabilize the region or hinder progress towards a Gaza hostage-release deal. The attack marks a significant escalation in Middle East tensions. The White House emphasized the necessity to defend American forces without seeking a wider conflict, while Iran denies involvement. President Biden has ordered retaliatory strikes against Iran-backed groups but has refrained from direct action against Iran.