Israeli Forces Kill Three Suspected Palestinian Militants in Jenin, Say Authorities

Jenin, West Bank | October 28, 2025 Israeli security forces have killed three Palestinian militants during an operation in the occupied West Bank, Israeli police announced on Tuesday. The incident occurred in and around the Jenin refugee camp, a frequent flashpoint in the long-running conflict and the focus of intensified Israeli military activity over the past year. According to Israeli police and military officials, the operation targeted a group of militants allegedly planning attacks in the area. Forces on the ground exchanged fire with the suspects before calling in an airstrike, which, authorities said, neutralized the remaining targets. The military claimed that the strike was necessary to prevent what they described as an imminent threat. No Israeli casualties were reported in the operation. The Israeli police statement said the militants had been under surveillance for several days and were suspected of involvement in earlier shooting incidents and preparations for new attacks. Weapons and explosive devices were reportedly recovered from the scene following the strike. The identities of the three Palestinians killed were not immediately released by either Israeli or Palestinian sources. There has been no official response so far from Palestinian authorities in Ramallah or from local representatives in Jenin. Residents of the camp, speaking to local media, reported hearing heavy gunfire and explosions early in the morning, followed by drone activity overhead. Several homes were damaged during the operation, according to eyewitnesses, and portions of the camp remained cordoned off hours after the incident. The Israeli military’s use of aerial strikes in the West Bank, while not unprecedented, marks a significant escalation in tactics traditionally reserved for operations in Gaza. Over the past year, Jenin has become one of the most heavily targeted areas in the West Bank, as Israeli forces have intensified operations against militant networks affiliated with Hamas and Islamic Jihad. A large-scale military campaign launched in January turned much of the Jenin refugee camp into what observers described as a “battle zone.” Many residents fled during weeks of raids that left homes, roads, and infrastructure in ruins. The Israeli government has defended these operations as essential to combating what it calls a growing militant presence in the West Bank, while Palestinian officials and human rights groups have condemned the actions as collective punishment and a violation of international law. The latest killings come amid escalating violence across the West Bank, where frequent clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinian militants have become a near-daily occurrence. According to United Nations data, 2025 has already seen one of the highest death tolls in the territory in recent years, with both sides suffering casualties. While Israeli authorities say such operations are necessary to prevent attacks on civilians, critics argue that the continued raids risk inflaming tensions and deepening instability in the region. With peace talks long stalled and distrust entrenched, the latest bloodshed in Jenin underscores the persistent volatility that has defined the West Bank for much of the past decade. Israeli Forces Kill Three Militants in West Bank Raid Israeli security forces killed three Palestinian militants during an operation in the Jenin refugee camp on Tuesday, officials said. The militants were allegedly planning attacks in the area when Israeli troops opened fire and later carried out an airstrike. No Israeli casualties were reported. The Jenin camp, long considered a stronghold for Hamas and Islamic Jihad, has faced repeated raids in recent months. Residents reported heavy gunfire and explosions as forces surrounded parts of the camp. Palestinian authorities have not yet commented on the incident, which adds to rising tensions across the occupied West Bank.