Tel Aviv

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Thursday (Aug 29) said it had killed five more militants in a large-scale operation in the occupied West Bank, taking the death toll to 14 in the second day of 'counter-terrorism' operations. 

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"Following exchanges of fire, the forces eliminated five terrorists who had hidden inside a mosque in Tulkarem," the military said, having gunned down nine militants in simultaneous raids in several West Bank cities a day before. 

The IDF said a well-known local commander named Mohammed Jaber, known as Abu Shujja who had been part of the Islamic Jihad militant group, was also killed in the operation.

Notably, Shujja was linked to several attacks on Israelis, including a deadly shooting in June. According to reports, he was planning more attacks before the Israeli forces allegedly neutralised him. 

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"Abu Shujaa, commander of the Tulkarem Brigade of the Al-Quds Brigades died along with several brothers of his brigade after a heroic battle against the soldiers of the (Israeli) occupation", the militant group confirmed in a statement.

There were reports that Shujja had been killed earlier this year but made a surprise appearance at the funeral of one of the militants where he was granted a heroic welcome from the crowd who hoisted him on their shoulders. 

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Ever since the war broke out in October last year, violence has soared in the West Bank -- a Palestinian territory occupied by Israel since 1967 and separated geographically from Gaza by Israeli territory. According to UN numbers, as many as 637 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank by Israeli forces or settlers since the start of the war against Hamas. 

Watch | Israel war: Israel launches fresh operations in West Bank

US imposes sanctions

The incident comes a day after the United States imposed new sanctions on West Bank settlers over violence against Palestinians. 

"Extremist settler violence in the West Bank causes intense human suffering, harms Israel's security and undermines the prospect for peace and stability in the region," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a statement.

Also read | Netanyahu opposes US slapping new sanctions on Israeli settlers in West Bank

The latest sanction targets included Hashomer Yosh, an Israeli group that has supported the unauthorised settler outpost of Meitarim Farm in the south Hebron Hills.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticised the US move and said the issue was raised in a discussion with the White House. 

(With inputs from agencies)