Israeli forces killed two Palestinian militants overnight in the West Bank village of Burqin. The militants, identified as Mohammed Nazzal and Katiba al-Shalabi, were reportedly affiliated with the Islamic Jihad militant group, according to the Israeli military. This operation aimed at apprehending the individuals responsible for a bus attack on January 6 that resulted in the deaths of three Israelis and injuries to six others.
The militants had barricaded themselves inside a building and engaged in a gunfight with Israeli troops, which left one soldier moderately injured. Hamas, a competing militant organization, claimed that the men were part of its armed wing and praised the bus attack. Both Hamas and Islamic Jihad frequently coordinate their efforts in assaults against Israeli targets.
Tensions in the West Bank remain elevated, a territory that Israel captured during the 1967 Mideast war and that Palestinians aspire to include in a future state. Violence persists in the region amid a 15-month-long conflict, with Hamas still in control of the Gaza Strip.
In a separate incident, Al Jazeera reported that its journalist Mohammed al-Atrash was arrested by the Palestinian Authority (PA). Al-Atrash was taken into custody at his home after being barred from covering an Israeli military operation in Jenin, a location often associated with violence. The PA has been conducting its own crackdown on militants in Jenin since last year but has faced backlash for alleged corruption and its close relationship with Israel.
Both Israel and the PA imposed a ban on Al Jazeera last year, accusing the network of biased reporting that favors Hamas. The broadcaster has denied these claims, asserting that they are attempts to stifle critical journalism.
