Barran Press
On December 12, 2024, the Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, urged fighters in the West Bank to "intensify their operations against enemy soldiers and settler groups" in support of Gaza and to thwart Israeli plans for territorial annexation.
In a statement released by the military wing of Hamas, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, spokesperson Abu Obeida emphasized that Israeli schemes to annex the West Bank and impose new realities on the ground are accelerating. He praised what he termed the "heroic operation in Jerusalem," carried out by a member of the Palestinian resistance in the occupied West Bank.
The operation involved gunfire directed at a bus near the Tunnel checkpoint south of Jerusalem late on Wednesday, resulting in the death of one Israeli settler and injuries to three others. The Israeli military reported that the assailant fled the scene, prompting a manhunt in the Bethlehem area, where roadblocks were established.
The West Bank and occupied Jerusalem have witnessed ongoing incursions by Israeli forces and settlers, leading to frequent clashes that have resulted in the arrests of thousands of Palestinians and the deaths of hundreds. This escalation coincides with a devastating war in the Gaza Strip, which has caused tens of thousands of civilian casualties, the majority of whom are women and children.
Since October 7, 2023, Israel, with U.S. support, has been accused of committing acts of genocide in Gaza, leading to over 151,000 Palestinian casualties, including many children and women, with more than 10,000 individuals reported missing amid widespread devastation and famine.