An Israeli airstrike in the Jenin area of the northern West Bank on Friday kills a Palestinian described by Israel as a Hamas militant operative and two accomplices, according to the Israeli military and medics. The strike hits a car, Israeli officials say, marking a rare use of Israeli air power in the occupied territory.
Hamas condemns the attack, and multiple outlets report conflicting or evolving details about whether the targeted person was claimed by armed groups. One report says Hamas condemns the strike and does not claim the person initially, while another says Hamas later confirms the individual named by Israel as Qais Bitawi was one of its members; Islamic Jihad is also reported to have claimed him as a member. France 24 and other outlets echo Israel’s account that the target is linked to Hamas.
Overall coverage focuses on Israel’s stated rationale for the strike and the deaths of three people, while differing on how explicitly Palestinian factions publicly attribute the target at the time of reporting.
