Gunmen attacked a bus transporting Israeli citizens in the occupied West Bank on Monday, resulting in the deaths of two elderly women, both aged 70, and a 35-year-old police officer, as reported by the Israeli military. In response, Israeli forces have initiated extensive operations in northern West Bank areas to locate the assailants.
Israel has controlled the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem since the 1967 Middle East conflict, with Palestinians aspiring to establish their future state across these territories. Concurrently, violence continues to escalate in Gaza, with no imminent resolution in sight. However, there has been unconfirmed progress in protracted discussions aimed at achieving a ceasefire and securing the release of Israeli hostages currently held by Hamas.
The ongoing conflict in Gaza has reportedly resulted in the deaths of over 45,800 Palestinians, according to local health officials, with a significant proportion being women and children. There is no official information concerning how many of the deceased were militants. The strife erupted when militants from Hamas executed a large-scale, surprise assault nearly 15 months ago, claiming approximately 1,200 lives—predominantly civilians—and kidnapping around 250 others. Of those taken captive, around 100 hostages are still believed to be within Gaza, with estimates suggesting that at least a third may already be deceased.
In related developments, Hamas militants launched three rockets into Israel on Monday, one of which was intercepted, as confirmed by the Israeli military. There were no reports of injuries; however, one rocket caused damage to a home in Sderot, a southern Israeli city adjacent to Gaza. Reports indicated this was the third instance of this particular house being damaged due to rocket attacks from Gaza. After a substantial hiatus, militants in northern Gaza have resumed regular rocket launches despite ongoing Israeli military actions in the region, suggesting they have managed to regain operational capability following significant losses.
Palestinian factions have directed thousands of missiles towards Israel since the inception of the war on October 7, 2023, while Israel’s military campaigns have resulted in extensive devastation across Gaza, reducing entire neighborhoods to ruins.
Amid these events, Israeli soldiers reportedly fired upon a U.N. aid convoy in central Gaza, as stated by the World Food Program (WFP), which is tasked with providing essential food and assistance. Fortunately, none of the eight WFP staff members sustained injuries during the incident, which involved at least 16 bullets being discharged towards their clearly marked convoy of three vehicles on Sunday. The WFP condemned the shooting as “unacceptable” and urged all parties involved to ensure the secure movement of humanitarian aid. The Israeli military acknowledged conducting an inquiry but did not admit to their forces being responsible for the attack on the convoy.
In the wake of a previous incident in November, an airstrike targeting a vehicle belonging to the World Central Kitchen charity resulted in the fatalities of five employees, following allegations that one worker had connections to the October 7 assault that ignited the current conflict.
As part of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah, the Israeli military has begun to withdraw from southern Lebanon, where deployments have been reported in the coastal city of Naqoura. The Lebanese army has commenced operations in this area, which follows Israel’s earlier withdrawal from two other towns, Khiam and Shamaa. Both parties had consented to withdraw their forces by the end of January, a move to be monitored by the Lebanese military and U.N. peacekeepers. U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein mentioned that the withdrawal process was proceeding according to schedule, but he did not confirm whether it would be finalized within the 60-day framework established by the ceasefire.
The logistics of this withdrawal were coordinated alongside a committee meeting focused on the ceasefire agreement in Ras al-Naqoura, attended by Hochstein, who played a pivotal role in brokering the agreement following a 14-month conflict. Following the completion of the troop withdrawal, specialized units from the Lebanese army are expected to inspect the area for unexploded ordnance and have urged local residents to stay clear of the region.
In Yemen, the U.N. special envoy Hans Grundberg has arrived in Sanaa, the Houthi rebel-controlled capital, as part of broader efforts to defuse escalating tensions affecting the region. The envoy aims to advance peace negotiations amid rising missile attacks by Houthi forces on Israel and increased targeting of shipping routes in the Red Sea, which the Houthis assert will persist until a ceasefire in Gaza is established. Israel has consistently targeted various locations within Yemen, including ports and oil infrastructure, situated roughly 2,000 kilometers away from the conflict in Gaza. The U.N. spokesman noted the envoy’s focus will also extend to advocating for the release of arbitrarily detained U.N. and NGO personnel, who have been held since June.
On Monday, another violent attack was reported when gunmen targeted a bus with Israeli passengers in the occupied West Bank, leaving three individuals dead and injuring eight more. This incident transpired in the Palestinian village of Al-Funduq, a key transit route in the area. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to ensure accountability for the attackers and anyone complicit in the assault. While Hamas commended the attack, they did not claim direct responsibility. Violence has intensified in the West Bank following the onset of the Israel-Hamas conflict, which began in October 2023.
As per figures from the Palestinian Health Ministry, around 838 Palestinians have lost their lives due to Israeli military actions in the West Bank since the Gaza conflict erupted. The casualties primarily include militants involved in confrontations with Israeli forces, in addition to those caught in violent protests and innocent bystanders.
Additionally, the United Nations reports that at least 46 Israelis have been killed by Palestinian militants in various violent encounters, including the loss of 19 soldiers.
