JENIN, West Bank — Israeli military forces pulled out from a militant stronghold in the occupied West Bank on Wednesday, concluding a rigorous two-day operation that resulted in the death of at least 13 Palestinians.
The operation involved extensive airstrikes and the deployment of numerous ground troops, causing significant destruction and displacing thousands of residents. One Israeli soldier also lost their life in the process. The military asserted that it had dealt a severe blow to militant groups in the Jenin refugee camp, although it is uncertain if there will be any enduring impact following the protracted period of intense conflict in the West Bank, which has lasted for almost a year and a half.
After a strenuous two-day operation, the Israeli military withdrew its troops from a militant stronghold in the occupied West Bank. This operation resulted in the unfortunate deaths of at least 13 Palestinians, alongside significant destruction and the displacement of numerous residents. The military employed airstrikes and deployed a large number of ground troops to combat the militants. The military claims to have dealt a significant blow to the militant groups in the Jenin refugee camp. However, it remains uncertain whether this operation will have a lasting impact, considering the prolonged and intense conflict that has persisted in the West Bank for nearly a year and a half.
Large military bulldozers caused extensive damage to roads and buildings, leading to the evacuation of thousands of residents seeking safety elsewhere. The destruction resulted in the disruption of essential services such as electricity and water supply. The army claimed that the use of bulldozers was necessary due to the presence of booby-trapped explosives in the roads.
Following the departure of troops on Wednesday morning, residents began to venture out from their homes, only to find streets filled with burnt and flattened vehicles, as well as piles of rubble. According to the military, significant seizures were made, including thousands of weapons, bomb-making materials, and hidden stashes of money. Weapons were discovered in both militant hideouts and civilian areas, including beneath a mosque.
The military withdrawal occurred shortly after a Hamas militant carried out a vehicular attack and stabbing at a crowded Tel Aviv bus stop, injuring eight people, including a pregnant woman who reportedly suffered the loss of her baby. The assailant was killed by an armed bystander. Hamas claimed the attack was in retaliation for the Israeli offensive.
In addition, early on Wednesday, militants from Hamas-controlled Gaza fired five rockets toward Israel, but Israel reported successfully intercepting them. In response, Israeli jets targeted several sites in Gaza. In Jenin, fighting persisted until shortly before the military withdrawal on Wednesday morning.
In a late-night airstrike on Tuesday, the Israeli military targeted militants within a cemetery in Jenin, claiming that they posed a threat to their forces during their departure from the camp. Clashes were reported near a hospital in Jenin, with explosions and gunfire witnessed by an Associated Press reporter. The Palestinian health officials reported 13 Palestinian fatalities and numerous injuries as a result of the Israeli raid. While the Israeli military stated that only militants were killed, they did not provide specific details.
This extensive operation comes at a time of increased violence, posing challenges for Prime Minister Netanyahu's far-right government, which consists largely of ultranationalists advocating for stronger measures against Palestinian militants, despite the escalation of the conflict. Throughout the year, more than 140 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank, and at least 25 individuals, including four settlers, have lost their lives in Palestinian attacks targeting Israelis.
Humanitarian groups have expressed concerns about the worsening situation, including allegations from Doctors Without Borders that tear gas was fired into a hospital, causing the emergency room to fill with smoke and forcing emergency patients to be treated in a main hall. The United Nations' human rights chief expressed grave concerns about the scale of the operation, highlighting potential violations of international human rights standards, particularly the right to life.
A resident of the camp, Kefah Ja'ayyasah, shared her account of soldiers forcefully entering her home and confining her family inside. According to her, the soldiers separated the young men from the rest of the family on the upper floor while leaving the women and children trapped on the first floor. She claimed that the soldiers prevented her from providing food to the children and initially blocked an ambulance crew from entering the home when she called for help. Eventually, the soldiers allowed the family to proceed to a hospital.
In response to the Israeli raid, Palestinians in the West Bank observed a general strike as a form of protest. The raid, characterized by airstrikes and a significant presence of ground troops, bears similarities to Israeli military tactics employed during the early 2000s in the second Palestinian uprising. However, there are also notable differences, such as the operation's limited scope.
In the 1967 Middle East war, Israel gained control over the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip.