As Israel ramps up military operations in the West Bank, reports indicate at least 25 arrests and a growing death toll following a two-day counterterrorism raid. Tensions are heightened as militants gain power and Israeli settler violence increases.
Israel Intensifies West Bank Operations Amid Rising Tensions
Israel Intensifies West Bank Operations Amid Rising Tensions
Israeli military operations in the West Bank lead to arrests and casualties as tension escalates post cease-fire.
The Israeli military continued its counterterrorism operation in the West Bank on Wednesday, arresting at least 25 individuals as part of a broader crackdown. Palestinian media reported that the operation, which has spanned two days, has resulted in a death toll climbing to ten, with four additional injuries occurring in Jenin.
The ongoing military efforts expanded beyond Jenin, encompassing arrests in cities such as Ramallah, Hebron, Tulkarm, and Bethlehem, with enhanced security at Israeli checkpoints disrupting traffic. Notably, a 45-year-old woman died at a checkpoint outside Hebron while awaiting access to medical care, a tragic incident reported by the Palestinian Health Ministry.
According to Jenin’s mayor, Mohammad Jarar, Israeli troops held around 600 people in the Jenin Governmental Hospital overnight, only permitting them to leave the next morning. Reports indicated that bulldozers were used to block the hospital’s entrance with dirt. Jarar also mentioned that residents were compelled to evacuate their homes, although this claim was refuted by Israeli military spokesman Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani, who declared there was no formal evacuation order.
Colonel Shoshani explained that individuals at the hospital were secured temporarily to prevent potential harm from explosives detonated nearby. Following a recent temporary cease-fire in Gaza, Israel has shifted focus to the West Bank amid rising tensions fueled by militant empowerment and increased violence against Palestinian civilians by Israeli settlers. Shoshani compared the current operation to a significant raid carried out in August, which resulted in 21 fatalities.
He emphasized the Israeli military’s strategy: “Our goal is to target terrorists while allowing the civilian population to maintain their daily lives.” Reports from Roland Friedrich, the West Bank director of a UN agency for Palestinians, suggested that the military operation is anticipated to extend over several days and involve advanced weaponry, including airstrikes targeting Jenin.
The ongoing military efforts expanded beyond Jenin, encompassing arrests in cities such as Ramallah, Hebron, Tulkarm, and Bethlehem, with enhanced security at Israeli checkpoints disrupting traffic. Notably, a 45-year-old woman died at a checkpoint outside Hebron while awaiting access to medical care, a tragic incident reported by the Palestinian Health Ministry.
According to Jenin’s mayor, Mohammad Jarar, Israeli troops held around 600 people in the Jenin Governmental Hospital overnight, only permitting them to leave the next morning. Reports indicated that bulldozers were used to block the hospital’s entrance with dirt. Jarar also mentioned that residents were compelled to evacuate their homes, although this claim was refuted by Israeli military spokesman Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani, who declared there was no formal evacuation order.
Colonel Shoshani explained that individuals at the hospital were secured temporarily to prevent potential harm from explosives detonated nearby. Following a recent temporary cease-fire in Gaza, Israel has shifted focus to the West Bank amid rising tensions fueled by militant empowerment and increased violence against Palestinian civilians by Israeli settlers. Shoshani compared the current operation to a significant raid carried out in August, which resulted in 21 fatalities.
He emphasized the Israeli military’s strategy: “Our goal is to target terrorists while allowing the civilian population to maintain their daily lives.” Reports from Roland Friedrich, the West Bank director of a UN agency for Palestinians, suggested that the military operation is anticipated to extend over several days and involve advanced weaponry, including airstrikes targeting Jenin.
