Israel Launches Major Military Operation in Jenin

Israel has initiated its largest military operation in Palestinian territory in years, unleashing a massive aerial and ground offensive in the city of Jenin. The offensive, which began yesterday, has resulted in at least eight Palestinian deaths and fifty injuries, with the death toll expected to rise as the operation continues.

According to Israeli sources, the complex nature of the operation necessitates at least another twenty-four hours to conclude. A brigade of 1,000 to 2,000 Israeli soldiers, backed by armored bulldozers and rooftop snipers, has been deployed to carry out the offensive.

Upon entering the city and its refugee camp, Israeli forces faced resistance and responded with at least ten drone attacks on various buildings. Palestinian militants engaged the Israeli military in gunfights, further intensifying the clashes.

The streets of Jenin now lie deserted, as residents stay indoors while crowds gather near the hospital to witness the ongoing gunfights at the primary entrance of the refugee camp. Images from the area depict armed and disguised Palestinian combatants locked in fierce battles, accompanied by explosions.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Shin Bet, Israel’s domestic intelligence service, claim to have targeted and assaulted a local militant group’s command center within the Jenin refugee camp. The objective of this operation is to neutralize the threat posed by the militant group and restore stability to the region.

The joint incursion into Jenin marks the first such operation in the area since the notorious Battle of Jenin in 2002 during the second intifada, a period of intensified Israeli-Palestinian violence. The current operation comes amid escalating violence throughout the West Bank, with 133 Palestinians killed this year alone. This surge in violence has contributed to the region witnessing some of its worst bloodshed in nearly two decades.