Israel indicts Nur al-Shams battalion commander on war crimes charges

Israel's military prosecution has filed an indictment against Kamal Khatib, commander of the Nur al-Shams Battalion, accusing him of committing war crimes.

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said Khatib remotely detonated an explosive device near the West Bank town of Balaa in July 2024 as an Israeli security vehicle was passing by, Caliber.Az reports.

One Israeli soldier was killed, and another was wounded in the attack.

He is also accused of directing other attacks, recruiting militants, organising intelligence and weapons production activities, and supplying weapons, funds and military equipment to armed groups operating in the West Bank.

The Nur al-Shams Battalion is a Palestinian armed group established in 2022 and based in the Nur Shams refugee camp near the city of Tulkarm.

It is affiliated with the military wing of Palestinian Islamic Jihad, although its ranks also include militants from other armed factions.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov