Israeli forces began a lengthy raid on Friday morning in the Nur Shams area, near the Palestinian town of Tulkarm. Massive Israeli military vehicles and heavy gunfire were heard.
Israelis protest against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's administration and call for the release of hostages in Tel Aviv, Israel on April 20, 2024. Photo: Reuters
The Tulkarm Brigade, which brings together forces from several Palestinian factions, said its fighters exchanged gunfire with Israeli forces on Saturday.
The West Bank, a kidney-shaped area about 100 km long and 50 km wide, has been at the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict since it was occupied by Israel in the 1967 Middle East war.
Thousands of Palestinians have been arrested and hundreds killed in regular operations by the Israeli army and police since the start of the war in Gaza.
At least 14 Palestinians, two of whom Palestinian sources and officials identified as gunmen and a 16-year-old boy, were killed in the raid, Palestinian health authorities said on Saturday.
The Israeli military said several Palestinian militants were killed or captured in the raid, and at least four of its soldiers were wounded in the gunfight.
In Gaza, fighting continues with Israeli attacks on the southern city of Rafah, where more than a million Palestinians are sheltering, as well as Al-Nuseirat in central Gaza.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has faced widespread international and domestic opposition to his plan to attack Rafah, where the Israeli military says the last remaining organized Hamas brigade is holed up and where the remaining 133 Israeli hostages are believed to be being held.
Thousands of Israeli protesters took to the streets on Saturday to call for early elections and demand the Israeli government do more to bring home hostages held in Gaza, in the latest wave of demonstrations against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Polls show that most Israelis blame Mr Netanyahu for security lapses that led to attacks by Hamas militants on communities in southern Israel on October 7.
“We are here to protest against a government that keeps letting us down, month after month; before October 7, after October 7,” said Yalon Pikman, 58, who attended a protest in Tel Aviv.
Last week's Iranian air strikes on Israel have diverted attention from the conflict in Gaza and for many relatives of the remaining hostages, there is a growing sense that time is running out.
Huy Hoang (according to Reuters, AJ)
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