Hamas claimed responsibility for an attack in the West Bank on Thursday that killed at least one Israeli soldier.
The Essedin al-Kassam Brigades, the armed wing of the Palestinian Islamic organization, said the attack was aimed at “avenging the blood of the Gaza martyrs.” According to Israeli sources, a 20-year-old Israeli soldier was killed in the attack on a checkpoint near Jerusalem.
Additionally, five other members of the security forces were injured, some seriously, it was said. According to police, three men attacked the checkpoint between Jerusalem and the Israeli-occupied West Bank. According to police chief Kobi Shabtai, the attackers carried pistols, axes and ammunition for “a major attack or massacre in Israel”. The three attackers were killed.
Terrorist attack on Israel
The attack occurred on the 41st day of war between Israel and the Palestinian Islamic organization Hamas, which governs the Gaza Strip. On October 7, hundreds of Hamas fighters entered Israel and committed atrocities, mainly against civilians. According to Israeli information, around 1,200 people were killed in Israel and around 240 people were taken hostage in the Gaza Strip.
Israel then began massive attacks on targets in the Gaza Strip and launched a ground offensive. An Israeli military operation began on Wednesday in the largest hospital in the Palestinian territory. According to Hamas figures, which cannot be independently verified, around 11,500 people have been killed in the Gaza Strip since the start of the war.