The Israeli military announced that at least seven terrorists were among the dead in last night’s warplane attack on the West Bank town of Tulkarem, in which 18 people were killed.

The strike targeted a senior Hamas commander, Zahi Yasser Abd al-Razek Ufi, who was planning an imminent attack, according to the Israeli military.

The IDF announced that at least seven are members of Hamas and the Palestinian group, Islamic Jihad.

Among them is Gaith Radwan, who the IDF says is a top Islamic Jihad commander. At the same time, Palestinian witnesses reported that Radwan, a member of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades, is among the dead.

Violence in the occupied West Bank has escalated since the war in Gaza began nearly a year ago. Since then, around 700 Palestinians have been killed in clashes with Israeli soldiers or attacks by Jewish settlers.

Tulkarem, which has a history of armed resistance against Israel’s nearly six-decade occupation of the West Bank, has been a frequent target of such raids, “anti-terrorist” as the Israeli military describes them. For more than nine days, beginning in late August, Israeli bulldozers destroyed roads, infrastructure and businesses there, as well as in the nearby city of Jenin.

The Israeli military said the raids were an effort to crack down on Palestinian armed groups and combat increasing attacks on Israelis and settlements.

Israeli settlements are considered illegal under international law, but they have continued to expand.