The Israeli army conducted an air strike in Jenin, located in the occupied West Bank, resulting in the deaths of three Palestinians on Friday. The military stated that among those killed was a person identified as a Hamas operative, Qais Bitawi, along with two accomplices. Hamas condemned the strike but did not confirm Bitawi's affiliation. The Palestinian Islamic Jihad described Bitawi as a senior operative of its armed wing.
According to the Israeli military, the strike targeted a vehicle carrying the individuals. The Palestine Red Crescent ambulance service reported that Israeli ground troops raided the site of the drone strike, briefly detaining medics and preventing them from transporting the wounded or deceased to a hospital. The Red Crescent also stated that its personnel were detained upon arrival at the scene.
Reports from the Palestinian Wafa news agency indicated that the drone strike targeted a house under construction in Jenin City, resulting in the immediate deaths of the three Palestinians. Photos from the AFP news agency showed Israeli soldiers removing a body from the construction site.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the operation, calling it a "successful thwarting" of the targeted individuals. Following the attack, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz commended the military and security services, stating that the Jenin camp has been "evacuated of residents" and that the Israeli military is now permanently stationed there, similar to other areas in the West Bank.
Hamas issued a statement mourning the deaths and calling for international action to stop what it termed Israeli "crimes". The group emphasized that Palestinians will continue to assert their rights and presence in the region.
The West Bank, which is governed by the Palestinian Authority, has experienced increased violence from Israeli settlers and military forces, although it has seen fewer military strikes compared to Gaza since the conflict escalated on October 7, 2023. The last Israeli air strike in the West Bank occurred in February 2025. The recent strike in Jenin coincided with separate Israeli strikes in Gaza that resulted in at least five fatalities. Nikolay Mladenov, the high representative for the United States-led Board of Peace, warned that the ongoing failure of both sides to adhere to peace agreements poses a risk to the ceasefire in Gaza.