WADI AL-BADHAN, PALESTINE – JANUARY 6, 2025 On January 6, 2025, tensions escalated further in the West Bank. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) conducted a large-scale raid in the area, resulting in the deaths of three Palestinians identified as armed militants. Among them was Jaafar Ahmed Dababseh, a forty-year-old Hamas commander and veteran of the organization, who was shot dead outside his home in the village of Wadi al-Badhan near Nablus.

Jaafar Dababseh

Jaafar Dababseh had long been considered a key figure in Hamas in the West Bank. Following his death, the organization released a statement describing him as a martyr and a hero of the resistance. Israeli authorities stated that the operation targeting Dababseh was part of a broader counterterrorism campaign following recent attacks on Israeli civilians. During these operations, an Israeli soldier was also seriously injured.

The Palestinian public reacted strongly to Dababseh’s death. In the village of Wadi al-Badhan, a large crowd gathered to honor him as a martyr. During the funeral, participants chanted anti-Israeli slogans and expressed support for Hamas. Some carried the organization’s flags and photographs of Dababseh, glorifying him as a hero of the resistance. These public gatherings highlight the deep divisions in the region, where figures like Dababseh are perceived differently depending on political and national perspectives.

This event remains part of the broader conflict that continues to destabilize the region. Palestinian authorities and organizations such as Hamas condemn Israeli military operations as collective punishment and violations of international law, while Israel insists that such measures are necessary to ensure the safety of its citizens.