8 Palestinians killed by Israeli army fire in West Bank

JENIN, Palestine

At least eight Palestinians were killed by Israeli army fire in the occupied West Bank on Sunday, the Health Ministry said.

A ministry statement said seven Palestinians lost their lives when Israeli forces bombed a public gathering in Martyrs Square near the city of Jenin in the West Bank.

Witnesses told Anadolu that the bombing resulted in many casualties, with human remains scattered at the scene, and the injured were taken to Jenin Governmental Hospital in the city.

Another Palestinian died of wounds he sustained from Israeli army fire in the town of Abwein near Ramallah, the Health Ministry said.

Israeli police officer killed in dawn raid

Earlier, at daybreak Sunday, Israeli forces stormed the city of Jenin – the center of the governorate – including its refugee camp and several neighborhoods. Sounds of gunfire and explosions were heard, according to witnesses.

Witnesses said that a helicopter bombed the camp, but no casualties were reported there.

At least one Israeli police officer was killed due to injuries sustained during the raid.

At least four Israeli officers were injured in an explosion during the raid, and two sustained serious injuries, said a joint Israeli army and police statement.

The wounded border police officers were taken to a hospital in northern Israel, where injured Shay Germay, a woman officer, was reported dead, a later joint statement said.

The casualties came from the explosion of a device on the roadside as an Israeli forces' vehicle was on site during the raid.

Images on social media showed a vehicle belonging to Israeli forces overturned due to the impact of the explosion.

Tensions have been high across the West Bank since fighting broke out in Gaza on Oct. 7 between Palestinian groups and Israel.

The number of Palestinian casualties in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, is at least 330, according to Health Ministry data.

Since Oct. 7, Israeli attacks in the West Bank have escalated simultaneously with the devastating war against Gaza, which has killed at least 22,835 and injured some 58,166, most of them women and children.

The conflict has also caused extensive infrastructure damage and an unprecedented humanitarian disaster, according to authorities in the Gaza Strip and the UN.

*Writing by Ikram Kouachi