The Israeli military has announced the killing of Wissam Hazem, the leader of the Palestinian armed group Hamas in Jenin, along with two other fighters, as its large-scale operation in the northern West Bank enters its third day. According to a statement from Israeli security forces, Hazem was "encountered and eliminated" while traveling in a vehicle. Subsequent air strikes targeted and killed two additional militants who attempted to flee the scene.

The Palestinian health ministry confirmed that the three men were killed overnight near Zababdeh, a town southeast of Jenin. Meanwhile, Palestinian media reported that Israeli forces had withdrawn from Tulkarm after causing significant damage to buildings and infrastructure in the city’s refugee camps. Although there was no immediate comment from the Israeli military, it previously claimed on Thursday that five members of armed groups were killed in Tulkarm, including their local leader.

The military also announced the completion of an operation in the al-Faraa refugee camp near Tubas, where they claimed to have "foiled terror, exposed terrorist infrastructure, and eliminated armed terrorists."

Since the start of this major military operation, one of the largest in the West Bank in two decades, at least 19 Palestinians have been killed, according to the Palestinian health ministry. The escalating violence has sparked international concern, with the United Kingdom expressing deep worry over Israel's methods and the reports of civilian casualties and infrastructure damage. A spokesperson for the UK Foreign Office emphasized the urgent need for de-escalation, citing the serious risk of instability.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres also voiced alarm on Thursday, warning that the ongoing raids were "fueling an already explosive situation." The violence in the West Bank has intensified following Hamas’s deadly attack on Israel on October 7, which led to the ongoing war in Gaza. In response, Israeli forces have ramped up their raids, stating that they are aimed at curbing deadly Palestinian attacks on Israelis both in the West Bank and within Israel.