The United Nations warned that the large-scale military operation launched by Israel on Wednesday in the West Bank “dangerously threatens to exacerbate the already catastrophic situation” in the Palestinian territories.

On Tuesday, Israeli forces launched a series of coordinated operations in Jenin, Nablus, Tubas and Tulkarm, where the army said it killed 9 Palestinian militants.

Ravina Shamdasani, spokeswoman for the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, said in a statement that the Israeli operations, “and the killing of at least two Palestinians, two of whom were children, raise the total number of deaths in the West Bank since October 7 to 637.”

She added, "This represents the largest number of deaths in 8 months since the United Nations began recording casualty numbers in the West Bank two decades ago."

Shamdasani continued: “Several children were killed while throwing stones at highly protected Israeli security forces, as were other Palestinians who did not pose any imminent threat to life or cause serious injury.”

She stressed that “this unnecessary or disproportionate use of force and the increase in targeted and other summary killings is alarming.”

She said that thousands of Palestinians have been subjected to arbitrary arrest and torture, are exposed to continuous violence from settlers, suffer severe restrictions on movement and expression, their homes and property have been destroyed or seized, and they have been forcibly displaced.

The spokeswoman stressed that “Israel, as the occupying power, must fulfill its obligations under international law.”

Ravina Shamdasani added: “The use of airstrikes and other military weapons and tactics by Israeli security forces constitutes a violation of human rights norms and standards applicable to law enforcement operations.”

It stressed the need to open a comprehensive and independent investigation into possible unlawful killings, and hold those responsible accountable