Israeli Forces Lay Siege to Tulkarem After Soldiers Wounded
Military Confirms Attack on Vehicle in Occupied West Bank
Israeli forces have laid siege to the Palestinian city of Tulkarem in the occupied West Bank after an explosive device wounded two soldiers on Thursday. The military confirmed one of its vehicles was hit by an improvised explosive device planted along a security fence near the city. In a statement posted on X, the army said it has sealed off Tulkarem and is conducting “intensive searches” in and around the area.
According to Israel Army Radio, the explosion took place at a checkpoint. The Tulkarem branch of the al-Quds Brigades, an armed wing of the Islamic Jihad movement, has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Roadblocks and Mass Searches Underway
Witnesses reported that Israeli forces closed main roads leading in and out of Tulkarem shortly after the incident. Troops established roadblocks and searched homes, while drones hovered overhead. Residents said the lockdown has effectively isolated the city and disrupted daily life.
The siege marks one of the largest military operations in the northern West Bank this month. Israeli forces have intensified raids across the territory since the start of the Gaza war, saying they aim to dismantle armed cells. Palestinian groups accuse Israel of collective punishment and targeting civilians.
Explosion Adds to Rising West Bank Tensions
The blast at the checkpoint comes amid a sharp escalation in violence across the West Bank. Dozens of Palestinians have been killed in recent raids this year, and armed resistance groups have increased attacks on Israeli forces. Analysts warn that the West Bank, long seen as less volatile than Gaza, is becoming a second front.
Israeli media reported that the two wounded soldiers were evacuated to a hospital and are in stable condition. The army has not released their identities or details about their injuries.
Qatar Calls Arab-Islamic Summit
The Tulkarem attack coincides with mounting regional tensions over Israel’s military actions. Qatar announced it will convene an Arab-Islamic summit on Sunday to address the fallout from Israel’s strike on Hamas leaders in Doha earlier this week. Gulf states and allies have condemned the attack, calling it a violation of international law and an escalation of the conflict.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov also weighed in, meeting with Qatar’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs in Sochi. Lavrov said Israel’s missile and bombing attacks on Doha undermined prospects for a Palestinian state and raised the risk of a wider war in the Middle East.
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Gaza Offensive Continues as Death Toll Rises
While Israeli forces conduct searches in Tulkarem, the army’s operations in Gaza continue to exact a heavy toll. Medical sources said at least 23 people were killed in Israeli strikes across Gaza on Thursday, most of them in Gaza City. Reporting from al-Mawasi, Al Jazeera’s Tareq Abu Azzoum described the area Israel has designated as a “safe zone” as “overcrowded and under-resourced,” with growing piles of garbage and limited access to water and medical care.
The Gaza Health Ministry reported that the war’s death toll has reached 64,718 people, with more than 163,000 wounded since the conflict began. The figures underscore the human cost of Israel’s offensive as it expands ground operations.
Growing Fears of a Wider Conflict
Security analysts say the Tulkarem attack highlights the growing reach of Palestinian armed groups in the West Bank and the possibility of coordinated action with Gaza-based factions. The Israeli military’s decision to impose a full siege on the city signals its intent to prevent further attacks but risks inflaming tensions among residents.
With Qatar’s summit approaching and international condemnation of Israel’s actions in Doha and Gaza mounting, pressure is building for a diplomatic response. Observers warn that unless the violence in both Gaza and the West Bank is curbed, the region may edge closer to an uncontrollable escalation.
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