JENIN: The Israeli military has completed a two-day operation in the occupied West Bank’s Jenin refugee camp, resulting in at least 13 Palestinians killed, thousands displaced, and substantial damage to the area. The operation, which included airstrikes and ground troops, aimed to dismantle militant groups in the region.
During the intense raid, the Israeli forces claimed to have inflicted significant damage on the militants’ infrastructure, confiscating weapons, bomb-making materials, and money caches. However, it remains uncertain whether the operation will have any lasting impact, given the prolonged conflict in the West Bank over the past year and a half.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited a military post on the outskirts of Jenin and vowed to conduct similar operations when necessary. He emphasized that the extensive Jenin operation was not a one-time occurrence, signaling Israel’s commitment to eradicating terrorism wherever it is found.
The raid on Jenin marked one of the most severe Israeli military actions in the occupied West Bank since the end of the Palestinian uprising against Israel’s open-ended occupation two decades ago. Since early 2022, Israel has conducted near-daily raids in response to deadly Palestinian attacks, citing the need to crack down on militants due to the perceived weakness of the Palestinian Authority.
In response, Palestinians attribute the escalating violence to the prolonged 56-year occupation and the lack of a political process with Israel. They also point to the expansion of West Bank settlements and violence by extremist settlers as contributing factors.
Destructive Operation in West Bank
The Israeli forces utilized military bulldozers to navigate through the Jenin refugee camp, causing extensive damage to roads and buildings. The operation forced thousands of residents to flee to safer locations, and essential utilities such as electricity and water were disrupted. The army stated that the use of bulldozers was necessary due to the presence of explosives on the roads.
Palestinian health officials reported 13 Palestinian deaths and dozens of injuries during the raid, but the Israeli military claims it only targeted militants without providing further details.
The operation took place amidst an ongoing spike in violence that poses a challenge to Netanyahu’s far-right government, dominated by ultranationalists advocating for tougher actions against Palestinian militants. However, the sustained conflict has resulted in increasing concerns from humanitarian groups about the deteriorating situation.
Amid the Jenin operation, Doctors Without Borders accused the Israeli army of firing tear gas into a hospital, endangering emergency patients. The UN’s human rights chief also raised concerns about the scale of the operation, questioning its compliance with international human rights norms and standards, particularly the right to life.
As tensions remain high, the situation has led to a general strike across the West Bank, with Palestinians protesting the Israeli raid.
Israel captured the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip in the 1967 Mideast war, and the Palestinians seek these territories for their future independent state. However, the prolonged conflict and political stalemate continue to create challenges for a peaceful resolution.
