Israel says top Islamic Jihad commander killed in West Bank

Palestinian security forces walk in the funeral procession of four militants killed by Israeli special forces in Nablus the previous day, in the occupied West Bank city on October 10, 2024. Israeli police killed at least four Palestinians in Nablus on October 9, according to the Palestinian health authorities and Israeli security forces. [AFP]

Israel's army on Friday said its forces killed Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad's top commander for the Nur Shams refugee camp in the occupied West Bank.

The military said Mohammad Abdullah was "eliminated" on Thursday when Israeli aircraft struck the camp near the northern city of Tulkarem.

An additional "terrorist" was killed in the raid, it added.

According to the Israeli army, Abdullah was the successor of Muhammad Jabber, also known as Abu Shujaa, who was killed in an Israeli strike in late August.

In a statement released overnight, the Palestinian health ministry said it had been informed of the deaths, naming the deceased as "Mohammad Iyad Mohammad Abdullah (20 years old) and Awad Jamil Saqr Omar (31 years old)," following the air strike.

Islamic Jihad is an ally of Hamas, with both groups battling Israeli forces in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

After the Israeli raid, Hamas said the resolve of West Bank militant groups remained high, warning the "crimes of the occupation will set the earth ablaze under the feet of its frightened army".

The attack comes a week after Israeli forces targeted a building with an air strike in Tulkarem that the Palestinian health ministry said killed 18 people, making it one of the deadliest air strikes in years in the West Bank.

Israel's army said the strike killed 12 militants, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad members that were planning an imminent attack.

Violence has soared in the West Bank since Hamas launched its unprecedented attack on Israel in October last year.

Israeli troops or settlers have killed at least 705 Palestinians in the West Bank since, according to the Ramallah-based health ministry.

Israeli officials say at least 24 Israelis, civilians or members of the security forces, have been killed in attacks carried out by Palestinian militants or in Israeli military operations over the same period in the West Bank.