5 Palestinians killed in Israeli raids in West Bank

A Palestinian inspects a damaged building at a refugee camp near the northern West Bank city of Tulkarm after Israeli raids on Dec. 17, 2023. (Photo by Nidal Eshtayeh/Xinhua)

RAMALLAH, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- Five Palestinians were killed in Israeli raids in the northern West Bank city of Tulkarm on Sunday, said the Palestinian Health Ministry.

In an official statement, the ministry reported that five individuals, who had been admitted to Thabet Governmental Hospital in the city from the Nour Shams refugee camp, succumbed to injuries sustained from the attack by an Israeli warplane.

Local Palestinian sources told Xinhua that the Israeli army launched a ten-hour-long military campaign in a refugee camp near the city. The operation triggered clashes with Palestinian militants, and explosions were heard due to the detonation of homemade bombs targeting Israeli vehicles.

Meanwhile, the Israeli army issued a statement, saying it had killed at least four Palestinians and confiscated weapons during its military activity in the refugee camp near Tulkarm. The statement added that Israeli aircraft targeted cells of "terrorists" who engaged in gunfire with, threw explosive devices at, and posed a threat to the Israeli forces.

As per WAFA, the official Palestinian news agency, at least 296 Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli forces in the West Bank since the new round of Israeli-Palestinian conflict broke out on Oct. 7.

Palestinians inspect damaged buildings at a refugee camp near the northern West Bank city of Tulkarm after Israeli raids on Dec. 17, 2023. (Photo by Nidal Eshtayeh/Xinhua)

A Palestinian inspects a damaged car at a refugee camp near the northern West Bank city of Tulkarm after Israeli raids on Dec. 17, 2023. (Photo by Nidal Eshtayeh/Xinhua)

Palestinians inspect a damaged building at a refugee camp near the northern West Bank city of Tulkarm after Israeli raids on Dec. 17, 2023. (Photo by Nidal Eshtayeh/Xinhua)