West Bank raid: Israeli strike kills three Hamas militants on third day of operation

The Israeli military said on Friday (Aug 30) that it killed three Hamas militants in an air strike in the occupied West Bank. With this, the death tollfrom a large-scale military operation now on its third day has climbedto at least 19.

Israel has described its raidon towns and refugee camps across the northernWestBankas "counter-terrorism" operations. According to a report by the news agency AFP, the three Hamas militants were killed near the northern city of Jenin.

Witnesses told AFP the strike hit a car in the town of Zababdeh, southeast of the city.Israeli troops pulled back from other West Bank towns late Thursday but fighting raged on around Jenin, long a hub of militant activity.

Army kills 7 militants, including 5 in refugee camp

On Thursday, the military said that it killed seven militants, including five in theTulkarem refugee camp.

A statement by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF)said one of the five was Muhammad Jaber, also known as Abu Shujaa, who the Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad said was its commander in the nearby Nur Shams refugee camp.

Two other militants were killed in Jenin on Thursday, it added.

At least 637 killed in West Bank since start of Gaza war

Violence has surged in the West Bank since Hamas'unprecedented October 7 attack on Israel whichtriggered war in Gaza.

On Wednesday, the United Nations (UN) said thatat least 637 Palestinians had been killed in the territory by Israeli troops or settlers since the Gaza war began.

Nineteen Israelis, including soldiers, have been killed in Palestinian attacks or during army operations over the same period, according to Israeli official figures.

(With inputs from agencies)