Thousands of residents have been forced to flee the Jenin refugee camp in the West Bank as Israel carries out one of its largest military operations in years. The operation, which commenced early on Monday, involves hundreds of commandos supported by drones. Its objective is to uproot Iranian-backed Palestinian armed factions believed to be responsible for recent gun and bomb attacks, as well as attempts to manufacture rockets. The raid has prompted the internationally backed Palestinian administration to suspend contacts with Israel and has drawn concerns from the United States and the United Nations regarding the worsening humanitarian conditions.
According to Vanessa Huguenin, a spokesperson for the UN humanitarian office, the scale of the air and ground operations in the densely populated refugee camp is alarming. Huguenin reported that among the ten fatalities so far, three were minors. However, specific details regarding the victims’ ages have not been released. The Palestinian Health Ministry has stated that around 100 people have been wounded, with 20 in critical condition.
The Israeli military claims that all nine Palestinians killed by its forces were combatants. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized that the operation in Jenin is not a one-time event, hinting at the possibility of future actions. The duration of the operation remains uncertain, though officials initially estimated it could last for one or two days.
Meanwhile, violence spread beyond the West Bank as a car-ramming incident occurred in Tel Aviv. An Israeli police spokesperson reported that a motorist wounded eight people before being shot dead by an armed civilian. The perpetrator, a 20-year-old Palestinian from the occupied West Bank, reportedly entered Israel without a permit and had no record of security offenses. Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack and cited it as an “act of self-defense” in response to the Jenin operation.
The situation in the Jenin refugee camp has prompted the Palestinian Red Crescent to evacuate approximately 3,000 people, comprising 500 families. The camp, which houses around 14,000 residents in less than half a square kilometer, has been a focal point of violence in the occupied West Bank for over a year. Islamic Jihad, Hamas, and Fatah fighters are known to be present in the camp, which has been fortified with various obstacles and watching posts to counter Israeli military incursions.
Israeli bulldozers were observed destroying improvised explosive devices in the camp on Monday, resulting in disrupted water and electricity supplies. Israeli officials have pledged to restore these services. On Tuesday, the military announced the discovery and dismantling of an underground shaft used for storing explosives, as well as two observation posts by border police.
The ongoing conflict in Jenin highlights the lack of progress towards a political solution to the long-standing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. International reactions to the operation have been mixed, with the United States expressing respect for Israel’s right to self-defense but emphasizing the need to avoid civilian casualties. Egypt’s permanent representative to the Arab League, Mohammed Moustafa Orfy, condemned the operation, stating that it would severely undermine reconciliation efforts after months of escalating violence.
In response to the military operation, a general strike was called for across the occupied West Bank, leading to the closure of many offices and businesses. The Palestinian Authority has labeled the operation a “war crime.”
The situation in Jenin continues to unfold, raising concerns about the well-being of civilians caught in the crossfire and further dampening hopes for a peaceful resolution to the protracted conflict.
Sources By Agencies
