Israeli Forces Kill Five Militants in Tulkarem

In a significant escalation of military operations, Israeli forces killed five Palestinian militants, including a local commander, during a raid in a mosque in Tulkarem on August 29. This operation follows a series of attacks in the West Bank, where at least 11 Palestinians were killed the previous day, raising the overall death toll in the region to 17 amid ongoing violence since the onset of the Gaza war. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have described these actions as counter-terrorism efforts, alleging that they are targeting militants involved in attacks against Israelis and linked to Iranian weapon smuggling. The Palestinian Authority has condemned the military operations, warning that they could lead to severe consequences. International reactions include concerns from UN Secretary-General António Guterres about the loss of life and calls for a cessation of hostilities. Meanwhile, the ICC prosecutor is pursuing war crimes charges against Israeli officials and Hamas leaders, highlighting the complexity of the ongoing conflict.