Israeli army launches raid in West Bank city of Jenin
The Israeli army launched a military operation on Tuesday in the Palestinian city of Jenin, in the north of the occupied West Bank. Six Palestinians were killed and 35 injured, according to the Palestinian Health ministry.
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the army was carrying out a "large and significant" operation to "eradicate terrorism" in Jenin. Israel considers Jenin, and in particular the nearby refugee camp, to be a terrorist stronghold.
The operation, dubbed Iron Wall, involved ground troops and special forces, the media reported. There have also been several drone strikes. Palestinian Authority security forces, which had been fighting local extremist organisations in Jenin, withdrew, according to Palestinian reports.
"What is happening is an invasion of the camp," said Jenin governor Kamal Abu al-Rub to AFP, referring to the refugee camp adjacent to the city. "It came quickly, with Apache planes in the sky and Israeli military vehicles everywhere."
"It came quickly, with Apache planes in the sky and Israeli military vehicles everywhere"
According to the Palestinian Health ministry, at least six people were killed and 35 injured in the refugee camp.
Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967 and regularly carries out operations in the area's cities and villages. Following the attacks on Israel in October 2023 and the subsequent war in Gaza, violence in the West Bank also increased sharply.
'Peacemaker' Trump
The operation comes just a day after US president Donald Trump lifted sanctions on violent Israeli settlers accused of violence against Palestinians. Hours after the sanctions were lifted, settlers raided several Palestinian villages in the area.
In Gaza, Sunday's ceasefire between Israel and Hamas is still in place. Trump told reporters that he was "not confident" that the ceasefire would hold. While describing himself as a "peacemaker", the president reaffirmed his support for Israel.
© PHOTO JAAFAR ASHTIYEH / AFP
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