'Terrorists' killed in airstrike on Jenin mosque, Israel says

Rubble near the mosque after an Israeli strike. Photo: Reuters

Israel said on Sunday it had killed Hamas «terrorists» and Islamic Jihad carried out an air strike on a mosque in Jenin in the West Bank.

The Israeli air strike was at least the second in recent days to hit the West Bank, where violence has spiked since Hamas militants from the Gaza Strip moved to end deadly Oct. 7 riots in Israel.

Israel said the complex beneath the Al-Ansar mosque in the Jenin refugee camp belonged to Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad militants, who were responsible for attacks in recent months.

“Information has recently been received indicating that terrorists (who) were neutralized were organizing an imminent terrorist attack,” the military statement said.

People inspect the damage after an Israeli strike on a compound beneath a mosque. Photo: Reuters

The military released images that they said showed the entrance to the bunker underneath the mosque. He also published a diagram that he said showed where militants stored weapons there.

The Jenin refugee camp, a stronghold of Palestinian militants, became the center of a major Israeli military operation earlier this year.

p>Footage on social media appears to show the scene of the airstrike, showing a gaping hole in one of the mosque's outer walls, surrounded by rubble.

Several dozen Palestinians assessed the damage as ambulance sirens blared in the background.

The Palestinian Red Crescent ambulance service said at least one Palestinian was killed and three others were injured injuries. It was previously reported that two people were killed.

Residents of the camp said they had received warnings from the Israeli military to stay away from the militants because of the impending invasion of the camp. According to them, the military did not name the date.