Israeli military operation in West Bank kills eight Palestinians as Gaza ceasefire holds, with aid flowing into Gaza. Tensions persist.
A major Israeli military operation in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday resulted in the deaths of at least eight Palestinians and left dozens wounded, according to Palestinian health officials. The raid occurred as Israel’s tenuous ceasefire with Hamas in Gaza entered its third day, underscoring the regional tensions that persist despite efforts to de-escalate.
The truce between Israel and Hamas, established to bring calm to Gaza for six weeks, has no bearing on the West Bank, where Israeli forces have been conducting near-daily raids. These operations frequently lead to violent clashes, adding to the ongoing unrest in the region. As part of the ceasefire deal, 33 hostages held by Hamas are expected to be released in exchange for hundreds of Palestinians detained by Israel. However, the violence in the West Bank threatens to undermine the fragile peace.
In a related development, Israel’s top military general resigned on Tuesday, citing security and intelligence failures during Hamas’ surprise attack in October 2023, which sparked the war in Gaza. This resignation marks the highest-profile departure within Israel’s leadership since the conflict began, highlighting internal criticism of how the crisis was managed.
Despite facing 15 months of warfare, Hamas continues to maintain control over Gaza. As part of the ceasefire agreement, a surge of humanitarian aid has been pledged to assist Gaza’s population. The Hamas-run government announced Monday that it would oversee the distribution of aid to meet the dire needs of the territory’s residents. The United Nations confirmed that over 900 aid trucks entered Gaza on the second day of the truce, delivering essential supplies to the besieged area.
The ongoing conflict in the West Bank and the resignation of Israel’s top general underscore the fragile state of the region. While the ceasefire in Gaza offers a glimmer of hope, continued military operations in the West Bank and the complex dynamics of hostage exchanges illustrate the immense challenges to achieving lasting peace.
