IDF carries out drone strike near Tulkarem as West Bank violence increases

Israel Defense Forces conducted a drone strike on Monday night in the Nur Shams camp near Tulkarem, killing at least one Hamas member who was released from Israeli prison last November as part of the hostage-release agreement.

The Palestinian Authority reported five people were eliminated in the strike, including Jibril Jibril, a member of the Hamas terrorist organization who was released from Israeli prison as part of the November deal. 

The IDF claimed to have targeted a command room used by local terror groups. 

During the November deal, Israel released multiple Palestinian terror prisoners, mostly from Judea and Samaria – also known as the West Bank – in exchange for hostages taken by Hamas on Oct. 7. 

Jibril had been arrested on terror charges related to his involvement in stone-throwing incidents, hurling explosives, and his involvement with the Hamas terror group. 

In a separate incident on Monday, which is under IDF investigation, Israeli settlers shot dead one Palestinian and wounded three others in Bethlehem, according to the Palestinian Authority-affiliated WAFA news site. 

Ynet news identified the man who was killed as Khalil Ziada (40), from east Jerusalem. 

There have been growing clashes between Israeli settlers and Palestinians in the West Bank, particularly since the start of the Oct. 7 war. 

Earlier in August, around 100 Israelis, including extremist settlers, entered the Palestinian town of Jit in Samaria, rioting, burning cars and causing the death of at least one Palestinian male. 

The IDF is conducting an ongoing investigation into the incident, with preliminary findings suggesting that Israeli soldiers did not take sufficient action to prevent the riots and attacks.

Miriam Yarad, a resident of Yitzhar in Samaria, claimed she survived an organized Arab lynching on the main road in Hawara on Monday night. 

Yarad said she only escaped by a miracle after her car was badly damaged and shrapnel flew over her. In a conversation with the Hebrew news site Ma'ariv, Yarad said: "It was really a lynching. I returned home and in the Huwara area they apparently had prepared in advance, saw me and attacked."

"They ran towards my car from all directions, faces visible, without fear. They just attacked the car and blew it up. The whole car was broken. Only by a miracle did they not hit my head; the headlights – everything was damaged." 

Yarad said she survived because she “just kept on driving.” 

She was interrogated about the incident by the IDF, but stated: “Until now, we haven't heard about the arrest of the rioters.” 

“They walk openly, they're not afraid,” Yarad said, “they know nothing will be done to them – it happens consistently. Nothing happens to stone throwers anymore, they feel safe." 

Incidents of throwing Molotov cocktails and stones have been a recurring problem in Judea and Samaria for more than a year.

The IDF has made few arrests, as most incidents occur at night, with suspects escaping before Israeli security forces arrive.