An Israeli airstrike killed 5 in the West Bank, including a Hamas commander
RAMALLAH, West Bank (Reuters) – An Israeli strike on a vehicle in the West Bank killed a commander of the Palestinian group Hamas on Saturday, Hamas media reported, while the Palestinian news agency WAFA said four more men were killed.
What others said was unclear, according to the WAFA report, which cited health officials.
The Israeli military said it had carried out airstrikes on soldiers around the West Bank town of Tulkarm. Hamas media said a vehicle carrying soldiers was hit and one of its Tulkarm fighters was killed.
Violence in the West Bank was escalating before the Israeli-Hamas war in Gaza began on October 7 and has escalated since then, with repeated Israeli attacks on the area, which is among those the Palestinians seek for a state.
Tensions in the region have risen sharply this week after Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed in Tehran on Wednesday, a day after an Israeli strike in Beirut killed top Hezbollah military commander Fuad Shukr.
Haniyeh's death was one of a series of killings of Hamas officials as the war in Gaza between Palestinian and Israeli militants approaches its 11th month and concerns grow that the conflict is spreading across the Middle East.
Hamas and Iran both blamed Israel for the attack and vowed to take revenge on their enemy. Israel has never claimed or denied responsibility for the deaths.
Hezbollah, like Hamas, is backed by Iran and has vowed revenge.
