Four Palestinians were killed on Tuesday, January 2, during an incursion by the Israeli army in the town of Azzoun, in the occupied West Bank, according to the official Palestinian news agency Wafa. The Palestinian Authority Ministry of Health confirmed their deaths.
“During an anti-terrorist operation in Azzoun, terrorists opened fire and threw explosives at our troops”, for its part affirmed the Israeli army in a press release. She said the soldiers had “killed four terrorists” during an exchange of fire. A soldier was injured in the clashes, she added. Since the Hamas attacks on October 7, at least 321 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank by Israeli soldiers or settlers. Follow our live stream.
The fighting will continue in 2024. Nearly three months after the start of the war, army spokesman Daniel Hagari announced to troops Sunday evening that some reservists would take a break from the war, in order to prepare for “protracted fighting”.
Record settler violence against Palestinians in 2023. Acts of violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank reached a record in 2023 and left at least ten dead, the Israeli human rights NGO Yesh Din announced on Monday.
Israeli ministers speak out in favor of a return of settlers to Gaza. Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir on Monday called for a return of Jewish settlers to Gaza after the ongoing war and “encourage” the Palestinian population to emigrate. On Sunday, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich also called for a return of Jewish settlers to Gaza and an emigration of its Palestinian population.