The Palestinian Red Crescent announced that on Wednesday night (March 18), Iran launched a missile attack on the occupied West Bank of the Jordan River, resulting in the deaths of three Palestinian women. This marks the first deadly strike by Iran on the West Bank and the first time Palestinians have been killed since the United States and Israel went to war against Iran.
According to the official Palestinian Authority news agency, WAFA, the missiles hit a barbershop in Beit Awwa, southwest of Hebron, injuring 13 people, one of whom is in critical condition.
The Israeli military reported that Iran used cluster munitions in the attack, with the warheads splitting into many small bomblets spreading over a wide area upon impact.
Since the end of February, at least 15 people in Israel have been killed in attacks following Israel and the United States’ offensive against Iran.
Iran has been launching missiles towards Israel daily, but prior to this incident, there have been no reports of intentional attacks targeting the occupied West Bank area.
While most Israelis can take cover in bomb shelters to protect themselves from cluster munitions and falling debris during Iranian attacks, the Palestinians in the West Bank lack similar shelters.
Many Palestinians rely on alerts from Jewish settlements or neighboring Israeli cities to warn them of incoming rocket strikes.
These settlements are located in the West Bank, an area occupied by Israel since the 1967 Six-Day War. Most major world powers consider the establishment of these settlements illegal, a view Israel refutes.
In recent days, the streets of the West Bank have been crowded as Palestinian families rush to purchase candies and gifts in preparation for the upcoming Eid al-Fitr festival marking the end of Ramadan.
(This article was referenced from Reuters reports)