Israeli army action in Palestine's West Bank, 10 people die

At least nine Palestinians, including a woman in her 60s, were killed and several others wounded on Thursday when the Israeli army raided conflict zones in the West Bank. This information was given by the Palestinian health authorities. At the same time, the Israeli army shot a 22-year-old Palestinian in a separate incident. In this regard, a senior official said that it is feared that the Palestinians will stop security coordination with Israel. The two sides maintain a security relationship in a shared effort to contain Islamic extremists. The clash occurred when the Israeli army launched a daylight operation in the Jenin refugee camp. The Israeli army stated that the said operation was to prevent an impending attack against Israelis.

Hamas, the Islamist militant group that controls Gaza, threatened retaliation. The refugee camp concerned is a stronghold of extremists in the West Bank and has been the focus of Israel's crackdown for nearly a year. At least one of the dead was identified by Palestinians as an extremist, but it was unclear how many others were linked to armed groups. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant directed a high alert in the occupied West Bank and along Israel's border with the Gaza Strip after a security briefing.

Tensions have risen between Israelis and Palestinians as Israel has launched nightly raids in the West Bank following Palestinian attacks. The conflict has intensified this month, as a far-right government in Israel came to power and vowed to take tougher measures against Palestinians. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is due to visit the region in the coming days, amid an escalation in violence. He is expected to push for steps that would make life easier for Palestinians. Pictures published by Palestinian media showed charred exterior walls of a two-story building and other debris strewn across a street.