Israel kills top commander in deadliest West Bank raids since start of war on Gaza

Death toll rises as Israeli military in the West Bank continue, with key leaders among the casualties.

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The Israeli military has claimed to have killed five members of a Palestinian resistance group, including a local commander, in the West Bank early Thursday as part of the deadliest military operation in the occupied territory since the Gaza war began.

The raids, which have claimed 16 lives, are aimed at preventing attacks, Israel claims.

However, Palestinians view the operations as an expansion of Israel's onslight against the people of Palestine and a continuation of Israel's long-standing military rule.

The Islamic Jihad confirmed that Mohammed Jaber, also known as Abu Shujaa, was killed in Tulkarem during a raid.

Jaber, who had previously evaded death and became a symbol of resistance, was reportedly planning more attacks against Israelis.

The latest raids have targeted militant strongholds in refugee camps, intensifying the already volatile situation in the West Bank.

The overall death toll from these operations has made it the most lethal Israeli offensive in the region since the war on Gaza began.