Israel Continues Military Operations in Jenin Despite Reports of Withdrawal

According to SAEDNEWS,

On September 6, 2024, the Israeli military confirmed that its operation in the occupied West Bank city of Jenin is ongoing, despite conflicting media reports suggesting that troops were withdrawing. The military emphasized that operations would persist until their unspecified objectives were met.

During the past 10 days of the operation, Israel claims to have killed 14 Palestinian fighters, including Wissam Hazem, described as the Hamas commander in Jenin, and arrested more than 30 individuals identified as "suspects." Additionally, Israeli forces reported the destruction of over 30 explosive devices allegedly placed under roadways in the city.

The military's actions in Jenin and its surrounding refugee camp have resulted in at least 21 civilian deaths, including children and elderly individuals, alongside significant infrastructural damage that has cut off essential services such as water, power, and sewage.

Eyewitness accounts have suggested that Israeli forces withdrew from Jenin and Tulkarm in the northern West Bank, leaving behind a scene of devastation. Reports emerged of humiliating detentions of women, children, and men, who were forced to march in a line.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) labeled the past week the "deadliest for Palestinian civilians in the West Bank since November," condemning the escalating violence amidst the ongoing war in Gaza. UNRWA stressed the urgency of stopping such violence, stating, “This is unacceptable. It must stop now.”

Israeli Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, known for his hardline stance, urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to incorporate the defeat of Hamas in the West Bank as a strategic goal of the ongoing military efforts in Gaza. He warned against repeating previous mistakes that led to Hamas's resurgence.

Since the onset of the military campaign against Gaza on October 7, violence in the West Bank has escalated, leading to the deaths of hundreds of Palestinians. The Israeli army's recent operations mark its largest incursion into the northern West Bank in two decades. According to Palestinian Health Ministry statistics, over 691 Palestinians have been killed and more than 5,700 wounded by Israeli military actions since the start of the current conflict.

The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has also reached alarming levels, with reports indicating at least 40,878 Palestinian fatalities, primarily among women and children, and 94,454 injuries, while many remain unaccounted for beneath the rubble of destroyed buildings.