The Israeli army on Wednesday continued a large-scale military operation in and around the West Bank city of Jenin, known as a stronghold of Palestinian militants.
The army said that since the operation began on Tuesday, “more than 10 terrorists” have been killed, several “terrorist infrastructures” were targeted and roadside bombs were defused.
The Palestinian Health Ministry said 10 people had been killed so far and at least 40 were injured.
The operation follows an increase in violence in the West Bank following a deadly Hamas-led attack on southern Israel in October 2023, which led to the current war in the Gaza Strip, which is de facto ruled by Hamas.
The fighting in Jenin comes just days after a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza took effect.
What did Israel say?
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that the operation in Jenin will be “sweeping and significant” and will aim to “eliminate terrorism” in Jenin.
Netanyahu indicated that the operation was part of a broader strategy to counter Israel’s arch enemy Iran “wherever it sends its weapons.”
The Israeli government has accused Iran of attempting to deliver weapons and money to terrorists in the West Bank.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz vowed that the attack, which is also targeting the Jenin refugee camp, would continue.
“This is a decisive operation aimed at eliminating the terrorists in the camp,” Katz said in a statement on Wednesday. He said the army would not allow a “terrorist front” to be established there.
What did the Palestinians say?
Jenin governor Kamal Abu al-Rab told the AFP news agency that “the situation is very difficult.”
“Capture [Israeli] “The army has bulldozed all the roads leading to the Jenin camp and the Jenin government hospital… there is shooting and explosions,” he said.
According to Abu al-Rub, Israeli forces detained about 20 people from villages near the city.
According to the Palestinian Red Crescent, the Israeli operation was launched just hours after several Israeli settlers set fire to homes and vehicles in two Palestinian villages, injuring more than 20 people.
This was preceded by a week-long effort by Palestinian Authority security forces to gain control of Jenin and the camp.
Israeli troops or settlers have killed at least 848 Palestinians in the West Bank since the Gaza conflict began, according to the Ramallah-based Palestinian Health Ministry.
In its turn, official Israeli figures show that at least 29 Israelis have been killed in Palestinian attacks or during Israeli military operations in the area during the same period.
tj/sms (AFP, dpa)
