"Al-Quds Brigades" targets an Israeli patrol with an explosion near Tulkarm

In a new field development, Israeli media announced today, Thursday, that two soldiers from the Israeli army were slightly injured due to an explosion of an explosive device targeting a military patrol near the Nitzani Oz checkpoint, at the entrance to the city of Tulkarm in the northern West Bank.

The spokesperson for the Israeli army confirmed that the explosion caused damage to a "Panther" military vehicle that was present at the time of the incident.

Immediately after the explosion, Israeli forces imposed a tight security cordon around the city and began extensive closure and search operations in the surrounding area, in an attempt to verify the circumstances of the incident.

Israeli Channel 12 reported that the explosion occurred during the passage of the military patrol in the area, while the Israeli army radio stated that the forces began to impose a tight siege on Tulkarm, including closing all the main entrances to the city.

For its part, Al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of the Islamic Jihad movement, announced its responsibility for the operation.

It stated in a brief statement: "Our fighters were able at exactly 1:20 PM to detonate an explosive device of the type Shujaa 1 that was prepared in advance, which led to taking a military vehicle of the type Tiger out of service, near the Nitzani Oz checkpoint, achieving confirmed injuries."

This operation comes at a time when the West Bank, especially its northern part, has been witnessing intensive operations by the Israeli army for several months, aimed at pursuing Palestinian militants.

In this context, the Israeli army at the end of February transferred tanks to the city of Jenin, a move not seen in the sector since the Al-Aqsa Intifada in the early millennium.

Since that time, the West Bank has witnessed extensive destruction operations, as the Israeli army has demolished dozens of homes in Palestinian camps in the northern West Bank to open military corridors, resulting in the displacement of tens of thousands of Palestinians.

On the humanitarian front, the Israeli army's operations in the West Bank since the outbreak of the war in Gaza have resulted in the death of at least 973 Palestinians, most of whom are civilians, according to Palestinian Authority data.

In contrast, Israeli authorities recorded the deaths of 42 Israelis during the same period, either as a result of Palestinian attacks or during Israeli military operations.

Israeli forces continue their operations in the area amid escalating tensions in the Palestinian territories, complicating the security and humanitarian situation in the region.