Two dead in Hebron, and the occupation claims to have arrested a Hamas cell in the West Bank

The Israeli occupation army announced the killing of two Palestinians this evening, Thursday, claiming they attempted to carry out an attack with Molotov cocktails near the settlement of "Karmi Tsur," built on the lands of the town of Beit Ummar (north of Hebron) in the occupied West Bank.

The Israeli Broadcasting Authority reported that a military force opened fire on the two young men (Palestinians) as they approached the settlement, resulting in their deaths (martyrdom) at the scene.

In a related context, the Israeli army announced the dismantling of a cell affiliated with Hamas in the city of Bethlehem, claiming it was planning to carry out bombing and shooting operations against Israeli targets in the West Bank.

According to a statement from the Israeli army today, the occupation forces - in cooperation with the General Security Service (Shabak) and the police - carried out more than 15 military operations that resulted in the arrest of about 50 activists, including released prisoners, and the seizure of weapons including an "M16" rifle.

The statement claimed that one of the groups was prepared to carry out attacks in the near future, and that thwarting this infrastructure prevented large-scale operations that could result in significant human casualties.

In this context, the Israeli occupation forces raided a residential building in the Upper Dahia area of Nablus, while clashes erupted in the town of Muthalun (southeast of Jenin), during which these forces fired tear gas at Palestinian youths.

Settlers also set fire to the mosque of Hajja Hamida located between the towns of Deir Istiya and Kifl Haris (northwest of Salfit Governorate) and burned copies of the Quran inside the mosque.

For its part, Hamas described this incident as a "heinous crime and a blatant assault on religions."

Hamas confirmed in a statement that the crime of burning the mosque "once again reveals the level of sadism and racism of the occupation against our people and their Islamic and Christian sanctities."

The statement added that "the repeated assaults on land and sanctities are carried out under the direct sponsorship of the fascist occupation government, in an attempt to impose a fait accompli and change the features of the occupied Palestinian territories and the historical facts therein," calling for urgent international action to stop what it described as "systematic violations of international laws and divine laws."

In Jerusalem, a Palestinian was injured by the gunfire of the occupation army near the separation wall between the towns of Beit Hanina and Al-Ram north of the occupied holy city, with the health condition of the citizen remaining unknown at this time.

Israeli occupation bulldozers also demolished the municipal park of Biddu (northwest of occupied Jerusalem) this morning. The park, which covers an area of about 5 dunams, is the only breathing space for villages northwest of Jerusalem, and was established over 20 years ago to serve the residents and provide a public space for rest and recreation.

Settlers continued their incursions into Al-Aqsa Mosque, with 267 settlers storming its courtyards under the protection of the Israeli occupation police, according to data from the Islamic Waqf Department.

The invading settlers performed prayers and Talmudic rituals inside the blessed mosque, while the occupation police stationed at the gates of Al-Aqsa continued to prevent worshippers from entering the holy mosque during the incursions.

These developments come amid the escalation of daily attacks carried out by settlers under the protection of the Israeli army, and the continued incursions into Palestinian cities and towns in the occupied West Bank, including the holy city of Jerusalem, since the start of the Israeli genocide war in Gaza on October 7, 2023.

The assaults in the West Bank have resulted in the martyrdom of 1,071 Palestinians and the injury of about 10,000 others, in addition to the arrest of more than 20,000 citizens, including 1,600 children, according to Palestinian medical sources.