At least two Israeli soldiers were killed and eight others injured in an attack by a Palestinian man at a military checkpoint near Tayaseer village, Tubas, in the northern occupied West Bank on Tuesday, February 4.
The attacker, wearing a green vest similar to the uniform of the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF), reportedly climbed a watchtower at the checkpoint and opened fire on the soldiers before being shot dead.
IOF aggression in West Bank
The surprise attack was carried out two weeks after Israel launched its deadly “Iron Wall” operation in the northern occupied West Bank. During the operation, the IOF has committed daily aggressions, leaving dozens of Palestinians dead and injured.
The IOF has also massively destroyed infrastructure. They demolished scores of houses and displaced thousands of people from their residential areas as part of the operation.
Hamas says the attack is an example of resistance
The Palestinian Islamic Resistance movement (Hamas) issued a statement hailing the Tayaseer checkpoint operation.
“The operation reaffirms that Israeli crimes and aggression in the northern occupied West Bank will not go unpunished and will not weaken the resolve of our people and their resistance,” Hamas said.
“This operation against an occupation’s military checkpoint affirms the determination of our rebellious youth and our valiant resistance in the West Bank to continue on the path of resistance and confront the fascist Zionist aggression,” the movement added.
IOF plans to escalate
In response to the attack, IOF Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi threatened to “increase the operations to thwart [attacks], and expand them to additional areas.”
Meanwhile, Israeli media outlets reported that the Tayaseer operation once again revealed an increase in the smuggling of rifles, which are fueling attacks by the Palestinian resistance in the West Bank, despite IOF’s intensified military presence in the occupied territory.
