At least 85 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank this year as Israeli forces launched night raids on cities, towns, and villages, making it the deadliest in the occupied territories since 2016.

The army says the vast majority of militants or stone throwers endangered the soldiers.

The toll reported by the Palestinian Ministry of Health includes Palestinians who carried out deadly attacks inside Israel.

Palestinians say the raids aim to maintain the 55-year Israeli military rule over the lands they want for a future state – a dream that seems more elusive than ever, with no serious peace talks held in more than a decade.

Israel escalated its operations last spring after a series of deadly attacks carried out by Palestinians against Israelis, killing 17 people, some of which were carried out by activists from the West Bank.

There have been no deadly attacks since May, but relentless military operations have continued.

The Palestinian Ministry of Health reported the killing of 85 Palestinians by Israeli security forces in the occupied West Bank since the beginning of the year.

With four months remaining in the year, this is already the highest number since 2016, the end of the previous wave of violence, when 91 Palestinians were killed, according to annual data collected by the Israeli human rights organization B'Tselem.

The ministry's toll includes known attackers and militants, as well as veteran Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Aqleh, and a 58-year-old man who was shot in the head outside a bakery earlier this month.

The Israeli army says both were perhaps hit by Palestinian fire but has not provided evidence to prove its claims.

The ministry said among the dead are 17 teenagers under the age of 18, as well as six women.

Israel says teenagers and women are often involved in violent acts, while critics accuse the army of using excessive force in many cases.

Israel also detains more than 600 Palestinians without charge or trial under administrative detention – the highest in six years.

Amir Avivi, a retired Israeli general who now heads the Israeli Defense and Security Forum, said the acceleration of operations is a result of the recent wave of attacks and the Palestinian Authority’s refusal to suppress activists in the areas it administers.

He said, “Israeli forces always operate based on very precise intelligence.”

They work only to arrest terrorists whom we know are involved in terrorism or planning to attack Israelis.