By V.E.K.Madhushani, Jadetimes News
Escalating Violence Raises Tensions Amid Ongoing Conflict
At least 10 Palestinians were killed during a significant Israeli military operation in the northern West Bank, according to the Palestinian health ministry. Israeli security forces stated that the operation, which took place overnight in Jenin and Tulkarm, targeted what they described as “armed terrorists,” resulting in the deaths of five individuals from the air and ground. An additional four Palestinians were reportedly killed in an airstrike at al Faraa refugee camp near Tubas, with another death occurring west of Jenin.
Local journalists noted that the scale of this operation is unprecedented in the West Bank since the second Palestinian intifada, or uprising, two decades ago. The West Bank has seen a surge in violence following Hamas’s deadly attack on Israel on October 7, and the subsequent war in Gaza. Hundreds of Palestinians have been killed as Israeli forces intensified their raids, aiming to curb attacks on Israelis in both the West Bank and Israel.
Reports indicate that hundreds of Israeli forces are active in multiple cities across the northern West Bank, including Jenin, Tulkarm, Tubas, and Nablus. The Palestinian health ministry reported that bodies of several individuals had been brought to local hospitals in Tubas and Jenin, with the Palestinian Red Crescent revising its death toll to at least nine.
In Jenin, Israeli troops have established checkpoints and blocked all but one entrance to the city. The health ministry accused Israeli forces of surrounding key medical facilities and obstructing the operation of ambulances, actions that it claims violate international law. The situation has caused significant fear among local residents and disrupted access to essential services.
The Israeli military confirmed that it targeted armed individuals posing a threat to its forces, claiming that several militants were killed in Jenin and Tulkarm, with weapons and explosives also being confiscated. A simultaneous operation in the al Faraa refugee camp near Tubas resulted in the deaths of four individuals in an airstrike, with further weapon seizures reported.
Residents in the affected areas described scenes of destruction and distress, with families mourning the loss of loved ones. In Tubas, a local resident recounted how his two sons were killed in an airstrike while they were providing water to others near their home.
Israeli officials have justified the operation as a necessary measure against what they describe as “terror infrastructures” funded and supported by Iran. Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz emphasized the need to dismantle these networks, accusing Iran of attempting to establish a new “eastern terror front.”
The escalation in violence has prompted warnings from various international and Palestinian officials. A spokesperson for Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas condemned the raids, cautioning that they could lead to severe consequences. The UN Human Rights Office also expressed concern, stating that the military's tactics risk exacerbating an already dire humanitarian situation.
Since October 7, the UN reports that 622 Palestinians, including civilians, members of armed groups, and attackers, have been killed in the West Bank. Israeli forces are responsible for the majority of these deaths, with some caused by airstrikes and others by settlers. During the same period, Palestinians have killed 15 Israelis, including security personnel and settlers, in the West Bank, with additional fatalities reported in Israel.
The conflict continues against the backdrop of longstanding territorial disputes, with Israel having established numerous settlements in the West Bank, considered illegal under international law a designation disputed by Israel.
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