Israel Kills 2 Palestinians in West Bank Raid, Gaza Airstrikes

Facts

• Israeli forces killed two Palestinians Sunday during a raid into the Nur Shams refugee camp near Tulkarm in the northern West Bank, as protests in Gaza along the border fence with Israel continue — leading to another round of Israeli air strikes on the embargoed strip.¹
• Israel said its forces entered the camp to dismantle militants’ 'operational command center and dozens of ready-to-use explosive devices,' while Palestinian state media said Israeli forces 'stormed the camp in large numbers, accompanied by military bulldozers, amid heavy gunfire.'²
• An Improvised Explosive Device (IED) reportedly hit at least one Israeli military vehicle as it entered the camp, with the Israeli military saying that one of its soldiers was 'moderately injured' by gunfire fragments during the operation.²
• Palestinian protesters in Gaza launched incendiary balloons into Israel on Friday, with Palestinian health officials saying that Israeli fire wounded 28 Palestinians during protests along the barrier. Hamas, the Islamist party that rules Gaza, said young people have arranged the protests in response to Israeli actions.³
• Israel has also reportedly sent reinforcements to the border fence with Gaza, carrying out airstrikes against alleged Hamas positions in the strip on Saturday. Large demonstrations have been held along the fence in recent weeks, with some protesters attacking Israeli forces.⁴
• The situation in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza has deteriorated in the last year as Israel — following a spree of Palestinian attacks last spring — has launched regular raids in the West Bank. According to The Associated Press, around 190 Palestinians have been killed this year in the West Bank, with Palestinian attacks targeting Israelis killing at least 31.³

Sources: ¹The national, ²CNN, ³Associated Press and ⁴The times of israel.

Narratives

• Pro-Palestine, as provided by Middle east eye. Israeli incursions like this are only meant to provoke Palestinian residents who are growing increasingly frustrated with the daily brutality of the occupation under which they live. The goal of these raids is to terrorize the Palestinian population into submission and make sure that nowhere is safe.
• Pro-Israel, as provided by Jerusalem post. Israel only launched these raids to prevent Palestinian terror attacks against Israeli civilians. The Israeli military does everything it can to avoid civilian casualties, but Israeli forces have been forced to use live ammunition after being attacked or fired upon by Palestinian militants. As terrorist groups like Hamas openly threaten attacks on Tel Aviv, Israeli forces will remain vigilant.