Threatened with retaliation – Israel kills leaders of Al-Aqsa Brigades

“The terrorist Ibrahim al-Nabulsi was killed in the city of Nablus,” the Israeli army said of the search, which involved the Israeli police and the secret service. “Another terrorist who was in the house” also died. Israeli security forces said they fired a missile at the house. Accordingly, four suspects were arrested. At least 40 people were also injured by gunfire, according to the Palestinian health ministry.

Fatah calls for trade strikes
Nabulsi was a commander of the Al-Aksa-Brigades, the armed wing of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’s ruling Fatah party in the West Bank. He is said to have been involved in several attacks on Israel. Hundreds of people gathered outside Rafidia Hospital in Nablus, where Nabulsi’s body was removed, an AFP correspondent reported. The dead man’s comrades threatened retaliation in a message. Fatah called for trade strikes in several cities in protest. Shops remained closed in many places and events were canceled.

In recent months there have been almost daily operations by the Israeli army in the West Bank. The army specifically targeted fighters from the militant Palestinian organization Islamic Jihad. At least 57 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank since late March.

Truce but response to ‘any aggression’
Israel and Islamic Jihad, brokered by Egypt, reached a ceasefire agreement on Sunday. However, Israel reserves the right to “respond decisively” in the event of ceasefire violations. The Palestinian side also declared its readiness to respond to “any aggression”.

Israeli Prime Minister Jair Lapid described the military operation in the Gaza Strip on Monday as a success against the Islamic Jihad leadership. Twelve of its members have died, including commanders Tajsir al-Jabari and Khaled Mansour, according to the organization.