CNN
 — 

Israel’s army stated Thursday it killed 5 Palestinian militants, together with an Islamic Jihad commander, throughout an trade of fireplace “inside and close to a mosque” within the occupied West Financial institution metropolis of Tulkarem.

The firefight got here after Israel on Wednesday launched one of many largest assaults on the occupied territory in years, with International Minister Israel Katz calling for a Gaza-style operation within the West Financial institution to root out what he known as “Islamic-Iranian terrorist infrastructure.”

After Israel mounted additional raids early Thursday morning, the Israel Protection Forces (IDF) stated among the many 5 killed within the mosque was Muhhamad Jabber, generally known as Abu Shujaa, the chief of the native department of the militant group Islamic Jihad.

Jabber had carried out quite a few terror assaults, the IDF stated, together with a taking pictures assault within the West Financial institution metropolis of Qalqilya in June, when an Israeli civilian was killed.

Later Thursday, the Islamic Jihad introduced the “martyrdom” of Jabber, whom they stated was the commander of the Tulkarem Battallion of the Al-Quds Brigades, the armed wing of the militant group.

The 4 others killed together with Jabber had been associated to his terror community and yet one more individual has been apprehended, the IDF’s worldwide spokesperson Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani stated in a press briefing Thursday.

The IDF stated it killed 12 terrorists throughout the first day of its operations in Jenin and Tulkarem, each within the north of the West Financial institution, in addition to dismantling “dozens of explosive units” that had been planted beneath the roads.

The raid got here after Katz warned that Iran was working to ascertain an “japanese entrance” in opposition to Israel to work alongside Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.

“We should cope with the menace simply as we cope with the terrorist infrastructure in Gaza, together with the short-term evacuation of Palestinian residents and no matter steps are required,” he wrote on social media. “It is a warfare for all phrases and functions and we should win it.”

United Nations Secretary Normal Antonio Guterres stated Thursday that Israel’s operation within the West Financial institution was “deeply regarding.”

“I strongly condemn the lack of lives, together with of youngsters, and I name for an instantaneous cessation of those operations,” he stated.

Clashes within the West Financial institution have develop into extra frequent since Israel started its warfare in Gaza in response to Hamas’ assault on southern Israel on October 7. Israel has occupied the West Financial institution since seizing territory from Jordan in 1967. Since then, it has expanded Jewish settlements within the territory, thought of unlawful beneath worldwide regulation.

The Palestinian Ministry of Well being reported Tuesday that 652 Palestinians, together with 150 youngsters, have been killed within the West Financial institution and occupied East Jerusalem since October 7, with over 5,400 others injured.