An Israeli airstrike on the Nur Shams refugee camp in the occupied West Bank has resulted in the deaths of five Palestinians, including two teenagers. The attack took place during the night leading into Tuesday, as reported by Al Jazeera journalist Nida Ibrahim from Ramallah. Israeli forces reportedly targeted leaders of armed resistance groups within the camp, reflecting the increasing violence in the area since the onset of the war against Gaza in October.

Hundreds of airstrikes have been carried out, with medical personnel receiving bodies and body parts following the latest bombardment. “Medical sources have confirmed that they have received the bodies of five Palestinians who were killed in the airstrike,” Ibrahim stated. The Palestinian news agency Wafa identified the two deceased teenagers as Adnan Jaber, aged 15, and Mohammed Ahmad Elayyan, aged 16. The other casualties included Mohannad Qarawi, 19, Jibril Ghassan Jibril, 20, and Mohammed Ali Yusif, 49. Jibril had previously been released as part of an agreement between Hamas and Israel in November.

In the aftermath of the attack, Palestinian groups declared a general strike in the Tulkarem Governorate to protest the killings. Hamas condemned the airstrike and called on Palestinians in the West Bank to intensify their struggle against the Israeli occupation.

Since the beginning of the war, there have been around 50 Israeli airstrikes in the West Bank, mainly concentrated in Tulkarem, Jenin, and Nablus. Additionally, there has been a noticeable increase in violence in the region due to attacks by Israeli settlers.

On Tuesday, a Palestinian was killed by settlers who attacked Palestinian homes in the village of Wadi Rahal near Bethlehem. The deceased was identified as Khalil Salem Khalawi, 40, who succumbed to his injuries after the assault. Local advocates reported that Israeli forces entered the village “to protect the settlers” and fired tear gas at the residents.

Since the start of the year, Israeli settlers have conducted 1,334 attacks in the West Bank, resulting in the deaths of at least seven Palestinians, according to Wafa. “These attacks have surged dramatically since the beginning of the war, and Palestinians say that the sense of impunity felt by Israeli settlers allows them to continue attacking Palestinians and their homes,” Ibrahim added.