9-11 Palestinians reported dead as violence escalates in West Bank

New Delhi, Aug 28: Nine Palestinians were killed in what Israel describes as a “counter-terrorism operation.” Palestinian officials have reported at least 11 deaths since the operation commenced at midnight yesterday.

The increasing violence in the West Bank is becoming a concern marking a sharp increase in tensions and unrest with a rising number of civilian casualties in the West Bank.

This Israeli crackdown operation appears to be the first instance since the second intifada—a major Palestinian uprising between 2000 and 2005—that multiple Palestinian cities have been targeted simultaneously.

The broad, multi-pronged assault across the West Bank indicates Israel’s growing alarm that the region may be slipping out of its control.

Media reports suggest that Israel has been grappling with the rise of new, younger armed groups, particularly in Jenin, even before the Gaza conflict flared up last October.

Now, this conflict has spread to numerous refugee camps across the northern West Bank, including those attacked in the current operation.

The Israeli government views the emergence of these groups as part of a broader strategy by Iran to keep Israel engaged on multiple fronts. According to reports, Tehran is believed to be funding and, in some cases, arming these militants.

The Israeli military, which has generally maintained control over the situation, has adopted increasingly aggressive tactics, including air strikes and raids on refugee camps.

However, these actions have resulted in a growing number of civilian casualties, which analysts suggest could backfire by turning these armed groups into local heroes. This, in turn, may lead to more young Palestinians being drawn into the conflict, further exacerbating the cycle of violence.

As the situation continues to deteriorate, political observers fear that the West Bank could become a new flashpoint, with the potential for widespread violence not seen since the early 2000s.