JERUSALEM- A major Israeli security forces operation unfolded in the city of Jenin, resulting in the destruction of infrastructure and the reported deaths of at least five Hamas militants. Hamas countered, stating that three of its fighters lost their lives during the overnight raid that commenced late Thursday and spanned approximately eight hours.
The raid underscores the heightened tensions across the occupied West Bank in the aftermath of the recent Hamas attacks into southern Israel, triggering a substantial Israeli military offensive in Gaza. The mounting death toll in the West Bank raises concerns about the potential escalation of violence in the territory seized by Israel in the 1967 war.
Hamas’s al-Quds Brigades in Jenin reported engaging Israeli forces for several hours, employing intense firepower and setting ambushes with explosives. In response, an Israeli military spokesperson asserted that their forces targeted an armed “terrorist cell” that had fired upon Israeli security forces.
The Israeli military disclosed that some Hamas militants attempted to escape in vehicles and ambulances toward Jenin’s Ibn Sina hospital. Troops intercepted one of the vehicles at the hospital entrance, revealing video footage of soldiers searching the car and discovering M-16 rifles and ammunition.
Amid the operation, Palestinian health officials reported that hospital workers were instructed to evacuate, with verified video footage showing them leaving the building with raised hands. The Palestinian Red Crescent Society accused the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) of detaining and searching ambulance crews.
Last week’s intense clashes in Jenin resulted in 14 casualties during a major raid by Israeli forces. Since the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel, at least 191 Palestinians have lost their lives in the West Bank, with up to 2,000 detained in a rigorous clampdown.
The Israeli military contends that these arrests have thwarted several significant attacks. Meanwhile, the toll from last month’s Hamas attacks stands at 1,200, predominantly civilians, with over 240 taken hostage. The ongoing military campaign in Gaza has led to at least 11,500 confirmed deaths, more than 4,700 of whom are children.
Israeli security forces also reported the killing of an attacker near Hebron on Friday morning, who had opened fire on soldiers. The West Bank remains a focal point of tension, with an Israeli soldier killed at a checkpoint on Thursday.
Israel’s national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, emphasized the need to address the situation in the West Bank akin to Gaza, highlighting the urgency in dealing with both regions.
