The Israeli military completed its withdrawal from the Jenin refugee camp in the West Bank, bringing an end to a two-day operation that resulted in the deaths of at least 13 Palestinians and one Israeli soldier. The operation, which involved airstrikes and ground troops, caused significant damage and forced thousands of people to flee their homes. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the operation in Jenin was not a one-off and that further operations would be carried out if necessary.
The raid in Jenin was one of the most intense Israeli military operations in the West Bank in the past 20 years. Israel has been conducting frequent raids in the West Bank since early 2022 in response to Palestinian attacks. The Israeli military claims these raids are necessary to combat Palestinian militants due to the Palestinian Authority’s perceived weakness in controlling armed groups. Palestinians argue that the violence is a result of the ongoing occupation and the lack of progress in the political process with Israel.
During the operation, Israeli bulldozers caused significant damage to roads and buildings in the Jenin camp, and residents reported the loss of electricity and water. The military stated that the bulldozers were necessary to clear explosive devices from the area. Following the withdrawal, residents discovered their streets filled with rubble and destroyed cars. The military claimed to have confiscated numerous weapons and bomb-making materials during the operation.
The withdrawal occurred after a Hamas militant carried out a car-ramming and stabbing attack in Tel Aviv, injuring eight people. Hamas claimed the attack was in retaliation for the Israeli offensive. Additionally, militants from Gaza fired rockets towards Israel, but they were intercepted. Israeli jets targeted multiple sites in Gaza in response. Fighting continued in Jenin until shortly before the withdrawal, with an airstrike targeting militants in a cemetery and reports of clashes near a hospital.
The Israeli raid in Jenin took place amid a surge in violence that has posed challenges for Netanyahu’s government, which comprises ultranationalists advocating for stricter actions against Palestinian militants. This sustained operation has led humanitarian groups to express concerns about the deteriorating situation. Doctors Without Borders accused the Israeli army of firing tear gas into a hospital, disrupting emergency services. The United Nations’ human rights chief raised issues regarding the operation’s scale and its potential violations of international human rights standards.
Palestinians across the West Bank observed a general strike in protest of the Israeli raid. The operation in Jenin showcased similarities to Israeli military tactics during the second Palestinian uprising, though it was limited in scope. Israel captured the West Bank, east Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip in the 1967 war, while Palestinians aspire to establish an independent state in these territories.
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