JENIN, Occupied West Bank — An Israeli drone strike targeted a building in the West Bank city of Jenin, killing three Palestinians. The attack marks a sharp escalation in aerial operations in the occupied territory.
The Palestinian Ministry of Health confirmed the fatalities after being notified by civil liaisons that Israeli forces had taken custody of the victims' bodies.
The strike occurred in the Harsh al-Saada neighborhood, where an unmanned aerial vehicle fired on a partially constructed residential building. Local eyewitnesses reported a loud explosion, followed by immediate military activity as Israeli armored vehicles deployed to surround the neighborhood. The victims were identified by local sources and health officials as Qais Bitawi, 22, Basel Turkman, 26, and Moamen Jaradat, 22.
The Palestine Red Crescent Society reported that emergency teams dispatched to the scene were intercepted by Israeli forces. Medics were briefly detained and later instructed to leave the perimeter, preventing ambulance crews from rendering aid or transporting the casualties.
In an official statement, military spokespersons confirmed the army executed a "precise strike" against targets in Jenin, claiming the individuals eliminated were involved in militant activity. Local Palestinian groups denounced the strike, warning that continued military incursions will further heighten regional tensions.
The aerial bombardment comes amid sustained Israeli military operations across Jenin and its surrounding refugee camps, where ground raids and targeted strikes have intensified.
With key access roads closed off and military cordons active around western Jenin, local community leaders warned of worsening humanitarian conditions and heightened risk to civilians in the area.
Humanitarian organizations and Palestinian civil society groups condemned the interception of medical personnel, calling for international oversight to ensure emergency responders can reach casualties without obstruction during military operations. As local residents gathered near the strike site, community leaders reiterated demands for an immediate halt to targeted strikes in densely populated urban zones to protect innocent civilians from escalating regional violence.
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