The Israel Defense Forces said Thursday that military, police and intelligence forces searched more than 220 sites in the occupied West Bank in the previous 24 hours, as Israel launched what it called a major "counterterrorism operation" in the Palestinian territory.

The operation is being carried out in the Jenin and Nablus areas, Israeli officials have said.

"The security forces searched over 220 sites, questioned dozens of suspects and apprehended several wanted individuals," the IDF said in a post to X. Security forces also recovered weapons and money, the IDF said.

"The operation will expand as required," the statement said.

Israeli forces conducted airstrikes in the West Bank overnight Tuesday into Wednesday in another sign of escalation of violence in the area in recent weeks.

Israeli forces called the operation that began overnight a "broad counterterrorism operation" being carried out in "northern Sameria," which is the biblical name for the area used by Israeli officials. The operation is being carried out in Jenin and Nablus in the West Bank.

At least three people have been killed in the operation, the Israel Defense Forces said in a statement. The IDF referred to these three people as "terrorists."

-ABC News' Jordana Miller

The remains of a hostage returned to Israel on Tuesday were identified as those of Dror Or, Israeli officials said early on Wednesday.

"The Government of Israel shares in the deep sorrow of the Or family and all the families of the fallen hostages," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said in a statement on Wednesday.

Or, 48, was killed during the Oct. 7, 2023, attack by Hamas on Israel, according to the Israel Defense Forces.

Or's remains were taken from his home, in the Be’eri kibbutz, into Gaza, the military said on social media.

"His wife, Yonat Or, was also murdered during the attack on the kibbutz," the IDF said on Wednesday. "Two of his children, Alma and Noam, were also abducted and returned two years ago, as part of the hostage release agreement in November 2023."

Israeli forces conducted two operations in the West Bank on Tuesday, according to the Israel Defense Forces and the Israeli Security Agency.

In one operation, Israeli forces killed a person they say carried out a ramming attack in Nablus on May 29, 2024. Israeli forces also carried out an overnight operation in Jenin, where they killed a person who they said carried out an attack on Gideon Perry, an Israeli security guard who was killed in August 2024, according to the IDF.

-ABC News’ Jordana Miller