Everything You Need to Know About Israel’s Ongoing Deadly Assault on Jenin
Occupied West Bank (Quds News Network)- On Tuesday, the Israeli military announced the launch of a military operation in the occupied West Bank city of Jenin, amid forced displacement, mass arrests, reports of field executions by Israeli forces, and a siege on the Jenin refugee camp that has caused widespread destruction to infrastructure. The assault is now in its fourth day.
What Happened on Tuesday?
Local sources said Israeli soldiers stormed the city on Tuesday morning from the Jalameh military checkpoint, after a special Israeli force infiltrated the al-Jabariyat neighborhood.
The raid coincided with Israeli drones bombing an empty vehicle near al-Zahraa School in the vicinity of Jenin refugee camp, without any injuries being reported, while Apache helicopters fired into the skies of the camp.
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“Iron Wall”
The Israeli military claimed it was conducting a “counterterrorism” operation, without providing details.
Israeli media, citing a military source, reports the Israeli military’s ongoing raid in Jenin is expected to go on for at least several days, mobilising extensive troops, special forces and intelligence personnel.
The operation is codenamed “The Iron Wall”, said Israeli military spokesman Avichay Adraee.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed the operation, saying, “Under the guidance of the Security Cabinet, the IDF, Shin Bet, and the Israel Police launched today a wide-ranging and significant military operation to combat terrorism in Jenin – “Iron Wall.””
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Israel’s far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said Israel’s ongoing raid in Jenin is designed to “change the security situation” in the occupied West Bank.
The military raid “will be an intense and ongoing operation”, said Smotrich in a post on X.
He added it would target “terror elements and their enablers” in order to protect Israeli “settlers” and “settlements”, which he described as a “security buffer” for Israel.
Palestinians Killed, Injured
At least 13 Palestinians have been killed so far since the start of the assault and about 50 others injured, according to local and medical sources.
Among the victims was a 16-year-old teenager.
Invasion of Jenin Camp
According to local sources, Israeli forces have imposed a complete siege on the Jenin refugee camp, deploying special units, drones and biometric and facial recognition systems to monitor and control the area.
Palestinians have been forcibly expelled from their homes as Israeli forces order them out via loudspeakers and air-dropped leaflets.
Local residents described the terrifying scene as drones circled above their homes while Israeli troops, using loudspeakers, demanded that people leave.
They mentioned that only one crossing was opened for them to flee, while they were subjected to biometric recognition technology, which was used to target young men for further interrogation and arrest, often without clear suspicion. They also added that those who were arrested were taken to unknown destinations, with no knowledge of what happened to them.
The Palestinian Prisoners’ Society (PPS) confirmed that Israeli forces have carried out field executions during the campaign, as a form of “collective punishment” to undermine any form of resistance.
Meanwhile, medical staff attempting to treat the wounded continue to face extreme restrictions by Israeli forces.
The movement of ambulances has been heavily controlled by Israeli forces, and medical personnel are being searched and interrogated before being allowed to bring aid.
Local reports added that residents of the camp have been subjected to mass arrests, strip searches and interrogations.
News coverage of the assault has been severely hampered.
Palestine TV reported that an Israeli soldier forced its crew to shut down live broadcasts, confiscated cameras and phones, and threatened to storm the building where the TV office is located.
Correspondent Amna Bilalo stated that the soldiers pursued them, even after they tried to retreat, making it clear that their reporting was unwelcome.
“We expect our office to be stormed at any moment,” she added.
Meanwhile, there has been widespread destruction of civilian infrastructure in the city. Many homes have been vandalised, and the area has suffered significant damage with the electricity to the camp being cut off.
Yesterday, we did not want to leave, we were at home,” 16-year-old Hussam Saadi told Reuters. “Today, they sent down a drone to our neighbourhood, telling us to leave the camp and that they will blow it up.”
“Relatively Similar:” Israeli Minister Says Forces Applying Gaza Lessons in Occupied West Bank
Israel’s Defence Minister, Israel Katz, said on Wednesday that forces were applying lessons learned from Gaza as a deadly assault continued in Jenin for the fourth consecutive day, during which people were forcibly displaced, killed, mass arrested, and subjected to field executions.
On Tuesday, the Israeli military announced the launch of a military operation in the occupied West Bank city of Jenin, amid forced displacement, mass arrests, reports of field executions by Israeli forces, and a siege on the Jenin refugee camp that has caused widespread destruction to infrastructure. The assault is now in its fourth day.
Katz said the Jenin assault marked a shift in the military’s security plan in the West Bank and was “the first lesson from the method of repeated raids in Gaza.”
The military has claimed it has refined its urban warfare tactics in light of its offensive in Gaza.
According to Reuters, a military spokesperson declined to give details but said the operation was “relatively similar” to but in a smaller area than one last August, in which hundreds of Israeli troops backed by drones and helicopters raided Jenin and other flashpoint cities in the occupied West Bank.
It was the third major incursion by the Israeli forces in less than two years into Jenin.
Palestinian Authority Attacks
Before the Israeli assault, the Palestinian Authority had been conducting a weeks-long operation, claiming the aim was to reassert control of the city as well as the refugee camp.
The large-scale campaign in Jenin involved besieging the city, shooting at unarmed civilians and clashing with local fighters.
PA forces killed several Palestinians and injured many more for over a month before Israel’s raid began on Tuesday.