Israeli strike kills five Palestinians in West Bank, ministry says

BBC:

Five Palestinian men have been killed in an Israeli air strike in the north of the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian health ministry says.

Two others were injured when a car was hit in Tubas early on Thursday. Israel’s military said it struck an “armed terrorist cell” and armed groups claimed the dead as fighters.

Palestinian media also said a 16-year-old boy was shot dead by Israeli forces in nearby al-Faraa refugee camp. The military said forces killed “a terrorist who was armed with an explosive device” in an exchange of fire and that a strike targeted others.

For nine days, Israeli forces have been raiding northern cities as part of what they say is a major counter-terrorism operation.

So far, at least 36 Palestinians have been killed, including 21 from Jenin governorate, eight from Tubas, according to the health ministry.

Most of the dead have been claimed by armed groups as members, but the ministry says several children are also among them, including a 16-year-old girl who was shot in her home near Jenin on Tuesday.

One Israeli soldier has been killed during the fighting in Jenin.