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Al-Khalil operation a cause of fear, panic in 'Israel': Israeli media

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Israeli Media
21 Aug 2023 22:18
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Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, the military wing of Fatah, have adopted the shooting operation in the southern West Bank on their official website, saying that the act comes in remembrance of the burning of the Al-Aqsa mosque on this day in 1969.

Members of Israeli occupation forces block a road leading to the site of the Resistance shooting operation in Al-Khalil, occupied West Bank, Palestine, on August 21, 2023. (AFP)

The latest Resistance operation in Al-Khalil in the southern occupied West Bank in Palestine, adopted by the Al-Aqsa Brigades, has been a cause of alarm in Israeli media, resulting in a state of panic and extreme concern within the political, security, and military apparatuses of "Israel".

The military expert of the Israeli Kan channel, Roee Sharon described the recent shooting operations in the West Bank as "bloody", adding that the Israeli security establishment is fearful of the wave of Resistance acts that have spread from the northern West Bank to the southern city of Al-Khalil.

Sharon emphasized that this escalation will have a severe impact on the Israeli settlers in the area, as well as the occupation's soldiers and the entire Israeli population.

Furthermore, the Israeli newspaper, Israel Hayom, stressed that 2023 marks the bloodiest year since the Second Intifada which took place in the early 2000s, as 35 Israeli settlers and soldiers have been killed as a result of retaliatory Palestinian action since the beginning of the year.

Abishai Ben Haim, a commentator for Channel 13 said, "I believe the difficult thing is feeling helpless, and if there is something noticeable, it is the feeling of helplessness and the inability to do anything (regarding Resistance operation in occupied territories)."

On his part, Israeli Reserve Brigadier General Amir Avivi confirmed that there exists a "very high-level violence" compared to previous years, noting that these operations are primarily carried out by individuals while there are in fact other operations carried out through Resistance groups.

He continued, "I heard an interesting statistic when the commander of the West Bank Division took his position, there were ten battalions of the Israeli army in the West Bank, and as of this morning, there are 23 battalions, and the number increases according to the complexity of the reality there."

Earlier in the day, the Israeli President, Isaac Herzog, commented on the Al-Khalil incident, describing it as "difficult and painful" for "Israelis because our enemies are using all means to strike us and harm us."

Media outlets took note of the floundering security situation in "Israel" as the occupation military fails suffers "humiliation on the northern" front with Lebanon, as well as rocket threats from Gaza, "and a rise in operations in the West Bank."

Other media outlets cited the head of the illegal "Kiryat Arba" settlement council in Al-Khalil as calling on settlers to kill anyone who intends to kill settlers.

Israeli media reported that Israeli occupation forces were searching for the shooters after the attack, which took place near the "Beit Hagai" junction in the southern occupied West Bank, near Al-Khalil.

The media said the settlers were shot at from a speeding car while they were driving on Highway 60, near the "Beit Hagai" junction, south of Al-Khalil.

Israeli emergency services confirmed that the woman who was initially listed as in critical condition was declared dead at the scene shortly thereafter.

Medical officials also indicated that the other injured settler was transferred to Soroka Hospital for treatment, where he was listed in critical condition.

According to the initial investigation of the Israeli occupation army, the settlers' car was hit by at least 22 bullets, and three other bullets were found nearby.

The investigation also added that the shooters' vehicle used to carry out the operation did not have registration plates and is believed to have fled toward Al-Khalil.

Israeli media outlets reported that the "army" forces are conducting search operations for the shooters after the attack, which took place near the Beit Hagai junction in the southern West Bank near Al-Khalil.