TEL AVIV, Israel — A shooting incident in the occupied West Bank on Monday has left three individuals dead and eight others injured while they were traveling on a bus. The attack has occurred amidst escalating violence triggered by Hamas’ assault from Gaza on October 7, 2023, which has since escalated into a larger conflict.
The shooting took place in Al-Funduq, a Palestinian village situated along a critical east-west route frequented by both Israelis and Palestinians. According to Israel’s military, the victims included two women aged 70 and a 35-year-old police officer. In response to the attack, extensive military operations are underway in the area to locate those responsible.
Over the last 15 months of conflict between Israel and Hamas, there has been a notable increase in violent incidents, including shootings, stabbings, and vehicle attacks targeting Israelis. In retaliation, Israel has been conducting nearly nightly military incursions in the West Bank, often resulting in clashes with armed militants. Additionally, there has been a surge in violence against Palestinians by Israeli settlers, which has prompted sanctions from the United States.
In the aftermath of the attack, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared a commitment to pursuing the “despicable murderers” involved and ensuring that all associated individuals face consequences without exception. Hamas, while commending the incident, did not explicitly claim responsibility for it.
Meanwhile, the situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate as discussions regarding a potential ceasefire and the release of hostages have seen little concrete progress. Concurrently, reports have emerged about tragic conditions faced by families in Gaza, including the heart-wrenching death of a 35-day-old infant who froze to death in a tent in a designated humanitarian area during a harsh cold snap.
Health Ministry official Zaher Al-Wahidi emphasized the perilous conditions for infants and young children amid temperatures plummeting as low as 3 degrees Celsius. Aid organizations are struggling to deliver essential supplies due to continued Israeli restrictions, ongoing conflict, and widespread lawlessness in various regions. This has led to critical shortages of food, blankets, and warm clothing as families cope with the winter cold in increasingly unmanageable living situations.
Recent reports from the Palestinian Health Ministry indicate that at least 838 Palestinians have died from Israeli gunfire in the West Bank since the onset of the Gaza war. While many of the deceased are identified as militants engaged in confrontations with Israeli forces, the toll also includes civilians and protestors. The United Nations has reported that at least 46 Israelis, including 19 soldiers, have lost their lives in aggressive acts committed by Palestinian militants.
Israel captured the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem during the 1967 Six-Day War, with Palestinians aspiring to establish a state encompassing these territories. Currently, around 3 million Palestinians live under Israeli military governance in the West Bank, administered in part by the Palestinian Authority. Over 500,000 Israeli settlers inhabit more than 100 settlements in the region, which are widely regarded as illegal by the international community.
The current conflict was ignited by a massive surprise incursion by Hamas militants nearly 15 months ago, resulting in the deaths of around 1,200 people, predominantly civilians, and the abduction of about 250 individuals. Approximately 100 hostages remain in Gaza, with at least a third presumed dead. In response, Israel’s military campaign has reportedly resulted in over 45,800 Palestinian casualties in Gaza, with women and children constituting more than half of the fatalities, although exact militant numbers among the dead have not been disclosed. The Israeli military claims to have neutralized over 17,000 combatants but has not released verifiable evidence to support this figure.
