DESPITE an agreement to reach a four-day pause in fighting with Hamas, Israeli forces have killed about eight Palestinians in the West Bank, including a child.
According to a report, this was disclosed by the Palestinian Ministry of Health on Sunday, November 26.
The ministry said five Palestinians were killed in Jenin late on Saturday and early Sunday, while three others were killed in other parts of the West Bank, bringing the total number of deaths in the West Bank to 239 since the war between Israel and Hamas broke out in October.
Six other Palestinians were injured during the attack by Israel in Jenin.
Palestinian news agency Wafa disclosed that Israeli forces attacked Jenin “from several directions, firing bullets and surrounding government hospitals and the headquarters of the Red Crescent Society.”
On Tuesday, November 21, Israel and Hamas reached the agreement to go on a four-day pause in fighting from Thursday, November 23 to Sunday, November 27, aimed at releasing hostages on both sides.
Israel had, however, said there would be a “lull in fighting” during the period.
This was contained in a statement by the Israeli government late on Tuesday, November 21, via its social media handle on X, stating that the release of every ten additional hostages would translate to an extra day of respite in the war.
“The Israeli government is committed to the return of all abductees home. Tonight, the government approved the outline for the first stage of achieving this goal, according to which at least 50 abductees – women and children – will be released for four days, during which there will be a lull in the fighting. The release of every ten additional abductees will result in an additional day of respite,” an English translation of the statement read.
Hamas released 13 Israeli and four Thai captives on Saturday, November 25, while Israel released a first batch of 39 Palestinian prisoners in exchange. More hostages are expected to be released by Sunday.
Ijeoma Opara is a journalist with The ICIR. Reach her via [email protected] or @ije_le on Twitter.