Palestinian Islamic Jihad Commander Killed in Israeli Strike Near Tulkarem

In a targeted airstrike on Thursday, Israeli forces killed Muhammad Abdullah, the commander of a Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) terror cell in the Nur Shams refugee camp, located in the Tulkarem area of the central West Bank. Abdullah, who was responsible for organizing numerous attacks on Israeli troops, was killed alongside a second operative in the strike, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed.

Abdullah had taken over as head of the PIJ terror cell after his predecessor, Muhammad Jabber, was killed in a gun battle with Israeli forces in August. The IDF accused Abdullah of leading the group’s militant activities in the region, including deploying explosives against Israeli troops. The second operative killed in the strike was not immediately named by the IDF, but Palestinian sources later identified him as Awad Omar from the nearby town of Bal’a.

Following the strike, Israeli forces on the ground seized semi-automatic rifles and flak jackets found on the two men, signaling their active involvement in planning further attacks. The IDF has ramped up airstrikes in the West Bank, particularly in areas where terror groups like Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Hamas operate.

The ongoing conflict has intensified since October 7, when Hamas launched a major attack from Gaza, leading to Israel’s military response across both Gaza and the West Bank. Since then, the IDF has conducted over 70 airstrikes in the West Bank, using drones, helicopters, and fighter jets an escalation in tactics that were previously rare for the region.

One earlier airstrike in Tulkarem earlier this month resulted in the deaths of at least 12 terror operatives, according to Israeli military reports. Among the dead was senior Hamas commander Zahi Yaser Abd al-Razeq Oufi, who was reportedly planning a large-scale attack on the anniversary of the October 7 assault.

As the conflict continues, Palestinian Authority reports state that more than 716 West Bank Palestinians have been killed since the war began, with the vast majority being involved in clashes with Israeli troops or participating in terror activities. The IDF has arrested over 5,250 individuals in the West Bank during this period, including 2,050 Hamas affiliates.

Meanwhile, terror attacks in Israel and the West Bank have claimed the lives of 41 Israeli civilians and security personnel, with six additional members of Israel’s security forces killed in direct clashes with terrorists.

Israel remains committed to dismantling terror networks in the West Bank and defending its people, as military operations in the region continue.

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