Protests in West Bank after Hamas deputy head's death in alleged Israeli strike

Protesters took to the streets of the West Bank city of Ramallah shortly after the death of top Hamas official Saleh Arouri in Lebanon was announced on Tuesday.

The crowd demanded revenge for the killing of Arouri, chanting slogans and calling on Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, secretary-general of Lebanon's Hezbollah, to take action.

An explosion in the Lebanese capital Beirut on Tuesday killed Arouri and three others, officials with Hamas and Hezbollah said.

Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency said the blast was carried out by an Israeli drone.

Israeli officials declined to comment.

If Israel is behind the attack, it could mark a major escalation in the Middle East conflict.

Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah has vowed to retaliate against any Israeli targeting of Palestinian officials in Lebanon.

Hamas official Bassem Naim confirmed to The Associated Press that Arouri was killed in the blast.

A Hezbollah official speaking on condition of anonymity in line with regulations also said Arouri was killed.

Arouri, one of the founders of Hamas’ military wing, had headed the group’s presence in the West Bank.

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had threatened to kill him even before the Hamas-Israel war began on Oct. 7.

The explosion came during more than two months of heavy exchanges of fire between Israeli troops and members of Hezbollah along Lebanon’s southern border.

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