Israeli Forces Kill Two Palestinian Militants in West Bank Raid
Israeli forces killed two Palestinian militants, Mohammad Zakarneh and Marouh Khuzaymia, during a raid in Misilyah, West Bank. The operation targeted individuals linked to a fatal attack that killed three Israelis. Violence in the West Bank has intensified since the October 2023 Gaza conflict, raising international concern over potential annexation.
hassan benyoub 
Misilyah, West Bank – On Wednesday, Israeli forces conducted a raid in the northern West Bank, killing two Palestinian militants identified as Mohammad Zakarneh, 23, and Marouh Khuzaymia, 19, in a firefight in the village of Misilyah near Jenin, according to a military statement.
Details of the Operation
The Israeli army described the two as "terrorists" involved in a deadly attack in al-Funduq on January 6, which claimed the lives of three Israeli civilians. Mohammad Zakarneh was a wanted suspect for his role in the assault, while Marouh Khuzaymia, previously released in a November 2023 prisoner exchange following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, was also implicated.
The Al-Quds Brigades, the armed wing of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, confirmed the deaths, identifying Zakarneh and Khuzaymia as their fighters. The group is classified as a terrorist organization by Israel and several Western nations.
Escalating Violence in the West Bank
The West Bank, occupied by Israel since 1967, has seen a surge in violence since the onset of the Gaza war, triggered by Hamas’s unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. According to the Palestinian Authority, at least 921 Palestinians, including combatants and civilians, have been killed by Israeli forces or settlers since then. Meanwhile, Israeli authorities report that 33 Israelis, including civilians and soldiers, have died in Palestinian attacks or during military operations in the same period.
In a separate development, Israeli armored vehicles entered Jericho in the southern West Bank, as reported by an AFP correspondent, signaling ongoing military operations in the region.
Regional Tensions and Annexation Threats
The raid comes amid heightened tensions in the West Bank, with parts of the Israeli government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, advocating for annexation of the territory. This has raised concerns about further escalation in an already volatile region.
The past two years have been particularly deadly, with violence intensifying since the Gaza conflict began. The international community continues to monitor the situation closely, as the cycle of raids, attacks, and retaliations shows no signs of abating.
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