Israeli undercover forces, posing as medical personnel, have carried out a deadly raid in the West Bank’s Jenin hospital, killing three Palestinian men affiliated with armed groups. CCTV footage captured the operation, showcasing operatives clad in medical uniforms and civilian clothes as they navigated the hospital corridors with weapons at the ready.
The Israeli military stated that the target of the raid was a “Hamas terrorist cell,” and the individuals killed were hiding in the Ibn Sina hospital. The three men, identified as Muhammad Jalamnah, Muhammad Ayman Ghazawi, and Basel Ayman Ghazawi, were said to be planning a terror attack. Israel Defense Forces (IDF) elaborated that Jalamnah was a Hamas member planning a raid attack and was “neutralized” because he was about to carry out an imminent attack. The two other casualties were the Ghazawi brothers, with one being treated at the hospital since October 25 for an injury.
The Palestinian Ministry of Health has condemned the raid, accusing Israel of violating international laws that protect healthcare facilities. The sentiment was echoed by the Palestinian foreign ministry, which branded the killings a “crime against humanity.”
The operation was not without protest from the Palestinian side, with Hamas announcing that the “crimes will not go unanswered,” while the Islamic Jihad group mourned the Ghazawi brothers by draping their bodies in its flags during a funeral procession through Jenin. These events underscore the rising tensions in the West Bank, “The minister of health calls urgently on the United Nations General Assembly, international institutions, and human rights organizations to end the daily string of crimes committed by the occupation (Israel) against our people and health centers,” a ministry statement said.
The escalating violence in the West Bank has been a recurring pattern, especially since the October 7th attacks by Hamas, which resulted in large casualties and a dramatic Israeli military offensive. Since October 7, Israeli forces have killed at least 357 Palestinians – including militants, civilians, and attackers – in the West Bank, while Israeli settlers have killed at least eight, as reported by the United Nations.
It has heightened concerns over the sanctity of medical facilities in conflict zones and the protection of civilians and non-combatants under international law. While the Israeli military has defended the operation as a necessary action against imminent threats, the incursion has drawn sharp criticism and calls for accountability over the use of lethal force in a healthcare setting.
Relevant articles:
– Israeli forces kill three Palestinian fighters in West Bank hospital raid
– Israel says 3 terror suspects killed in rare raid inside West Bank hospital, CBS News, Tue, 30 Jan 2024 12:26:00 GMT
– Israel undercover agents kill 3 Palestinians in West Bank hospital, FRANCE 24 English, Tue, 30 Jan 2024 09:11:09 GMT
– Israeli forces kill three Palestinians in West Bank hospital raid, Al Jazeera English, Tue, 30 Jan 2024 12:33:45 GMT