Israel Destroys Area Organizing 'Terrorist Attacks' Under Mosque in West Bank

Israeli aircraft targeted an area beneath a mosque in the West Bank early on Sunday, October 22, which was reportedly used by Palestinian militants to organize 'terrorist attacks against civilians.' Palestinian Red Crescent services reported the death of one Palestinian and injuries to three others in this attack. Reuters also cited a Palestinian doctor stating that at least one person was killed during the assault. Following the October 7 terrorist attack by Palestinian militants on Israel, there has been a surge of violence in the West Bank, and Sunday’s attack marks at least the second Israeli airstrike in the region. The Israeli army stated that the area beneath the Al-Ansar mosque in the Jenin camp belonged to Hamas and Islamic Jihad operatives. According to the statement, 'Based on recently received information, the neutralized terrorists were organizing an imminent terrorist attack.' The official Israeli army account on social media platform 'X' released aerial images of the Jenin camp and Al-Ansar mosque, indicating that the mosque was used as a command center for planning and executing terrorist attacks against civilians. The images showed the entrance to a shelter beneath the mosque and the storage location for weapons of these two Palestinian militant groups. Earlier this year, the Jenin refugee camp was also the target of a major Israeli military operation. Videos shared on social media show a hole in one of the outer walls of the mosque, with dozens of Palestinians assessing the damage, and the sound of ambulance sirens can be heard. Residents of the Jenin camp reported that the Israeli army had warned them to stay away from Palestinian militants due to an imminent attack on the camp. According to them, the army's warning did not specify a date. Palestinian officials stated that since the October 7 attack by Palestinian militants on Israel, at least 84 Palestinians in the West Bank have lost their lives during clashes with Israeli forces. Last Thursday, the Israeli army also announced an airstrike on a refugee camp near Tulkarm to arrest suspects and confiscate weapons. Palestinian sources reported that 12 Palestinians were killed during this attack. Warnings to the Islamic Republic and proxy forces; the U.S. is doubling its military presence in the region. Warnings from Israeli army commanders to residents of Gaza: we are ready to enter Gaza, move south. The U.S. Secretary of State called for the Rafah crossing to remain open; UN officials consider incoming aid 'insufficient.' A peace conference in Cairo was held to reduce tensions in the Israel-Hamas war and send aid to Gaza. The UN Secretary-General stated that Hamas's attack does not justify 'collective punishment' of Palestinians by Israel. An Israeli army spokesperson reported an increase in the number of hostages in Gaza to 210. Hamas fired rockets at 10 cities in central and southern Israel. The World Food Program called for increased aid to the Gaza Strip. Israel has advised its citizens not to travel to Egypt and Jordan.