Two Israeli soldiers were killed in a car-ramming attack in the occupied West Bank, the Israeli military confirmed on Thursday. The incident occurred near the Palestinian city of Nablus, and the attacker fled the scene. The IDF launched a search for the perpetrator, who reportedly turned himself in to Palestinian security forces, although this information could not be immediately verified.
The attack comes amidst escalating violence in the West Bank following the recent conflict in Gaza. Israel has been conducting raids in Palestinian territories to crack down on militant resistance, resulting in the deaths of over 500 Palestinians. The surge in violence has also seen an increase in Palestinian attacks against Israelis in the region.
In a separate development, the IDF announced the seizure of a strategic corridor along Gaza’s border with Egypt known as the Philadelphi Corridor. The move is aimed at cutting off smuggling tunnels used by Hamas to transport weapons and goods into Gaza. The capture of the corridor could strain Israel’s relations with Egypt, which has expressed concerns about the incursion towards its border.
Meanwhile, Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged more humanitarian aid for Gaza during a summit with Arab leaders in Beijing. Xi reiterated China’s support for an independent Palestinian state and a two-state solution to the conflict. The international community has condemned Israel for its actions in Gaza, where a recent IDF strike in Rafah resulted in the deaths of at least 45 civilians. The Palestinian death toll in the war has now surpassed 36,000, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.