Violence in the West Bank has surged in the weeks since Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, setting off a devastating war in the Gaza Strip.
Israeli forces have killed dozens of Palestinians and arrested hundreds in the West Bank. Jewish West Bank settlers have also stepped up attacks.
The Palestinian Health Ministry said that five Palestinians were killed in the militant stronghold Jenin, while three others were killed in separate areas of the West Bank since Saturday morning.
One of those killed, in al-Bireh in the central West Bank, was a teenager, the ministry said.
Health officials say Israeli forces operating in the occupied West Bank killed at least eight Palestinians in a 24-hour period
White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan has said that they expected “at least one American” will be part of the swaps today.
He said: “We have reason to believe that at least one American held by Hamas will be released today.
“We hope Abigail Edan will be released but we can’t know for sure until it happens.”
Red Cross rolls back comments from senior officer regarding hostage swap
The International Committee of the Red Cross has rolled back comments made by one of its senior officials ,earlier today in which they said they were “not confident” a swap between Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners would go ahead today.
“An earlier statement from an ICRC official was in no way an indication that the release operations planned for Sunday will not happen,” a statement read.
“All preparations for the next release continue to move forward. The operations are delicate and complicated and one can never be absolutely certain they will take place, given all of the complexities.”
2 hours ago
Emily Hand’s emotional reunion with father after release from Gaza
Nine-year-old Emily Hand’s father sobbed as the pair reunited after she was released by Hamas on Saturday, 25 November.
The Irish-Israeli girl was among the hostages who were freed under a four-day ceasefire agreement between Israel and the militant group.
She had been held captive since Hamas’s brutal incursion on 7 October.
Her father Thomas Hand, who was originally told Emily had been killed, can be seen hugging his daughter tightly in footage of their reunion.
“We are overjoyed to embrace Emily again,” her family said in a statement.
