Israel continues West Bank operations: 75 arrested

Israeli military forces and law enforcement personnel have arrested 75 Palestinian militants over the past week in a series of raids across the West Bank.

Israeli army's press office said that, operations were carried out in several areas, including major Palestinian cities such as Hebron and Jericho in the southern part of the West Bank, Caliber.Az reports.

The raids led to the arrest of several wanted Palestinians, and dozens of individuals were questioned by authorities.

The Israeli military continues its operations in the northern part of the West Bank, with ongoing efforts to target militant activity, the army statement added.

In recent development, Israel has confirmed the identities of four Israeli hostages whose bodies were handed over by Hamas in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. The four individuals—Shlomo Mansour, 86, Ohad Yahalomi, 50, Tsachi Idan, 50, and Itzik Elgarat, 69—were identified following forensic tests and the recognition of their families. The bodies were transferred to the Red Cross on Wednesday night, without ceremony, as part of the latest phase of the Gaza ceasefire deal.

This handover cleared the way for the delayed release of over 600 Palestinian prisoners. However, the future of the ceasefire remains uncertain, with Hamas expressing readiness to begin the second phase of talks aimed at ending the war and securing the release of remaining Israeli hostages. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, under pressure from political allies, has called for the current ceasefire phase to be extended.

Since Hamas's attack on Israel in October 2023, which left over 1,200 dead and 251 hostages taken, the conflict has resulted in at least 48,348 casualties in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. Gaza’s infrastructure has been decimated, with millions displaced and severe shortages in essential resources.

By Aghakazim Guliyev