Gaza, Palestine – In a development that reverberated across the occupied West Bank, Israeli forces have officially withdrawn from the Palestinian city of Jenin, signaling the end of one of their most extensive military operations in recent memory. Witnesses from Reuters confirmed that convoys of Israeli military vehicles departed from Jenin under the cover of darkness, suggesting the conclusion of an operation that commenced on Monday.
This military campaign, which involved the deployment of over 1,000 troops, aimed to eradicate militant infrastructure and weapons within the Jenin refugee camp. Commencing with a precise drone strike on Monday, the operation resulted in the loss of twelve lives, with at least five of the casualties identified as fighters, while one Israeli soldier also perished.
Following the withdrawal, residents who had evacuated the camp during the intense fighting began to return to their homes, stepping cautiously through the darkened streets, illuminated only by the glow of their mobile phones as they surveyed the aftermath of the conflict.
The Jenin refugee camp, a densely populated area housing approximately 14,000 individuals within less than half a square kilometer, has been a focal point of escalating violence that has plagued the West Bank for over a year. The unrest has triggered growing international concerns and calls for urgent resolution.
In the hours following the withdrawal, Palestinian militants from the Gaza Strip launched five rockets towards Israel, according to the Israeli military. However, all incoming projectiles were intercepted, and no immediate casualties were reported. Meanwhile, tension escalated further on Tuesday as a car-ramming and stabbing attack, claimed by the Palestinian Hamas militant group, unfolded in Tel Aviv, Israel’s thriving business hub, injuring eight individuals.
While Israeli troops were exiting Jenin, the sounds of explosions could still be heard within the northern West Bank city, alongside unverified reports of a gun battle near a local hospital. Notably, Doctors Without Borders alleged that Israeli forces had employed tear gas against their hospital teams. The Israeli military refuted any knowledge of its forces firing near a medical facility but acknowledged conducting an airstrike on gunmen who had taken positions within a cemetery, posing a threat to the retreating troops.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, present at a checkpoint near the city, declared, “At this moment, we are completing the mission, and I can affirm that our extensive activity in Jenin is not a one-time operation.”
During the operation, Israeli forces discovered underground caches of explosives, with one concealed within a mosque tunnel, seized 1,000 weapons, and apprehended 30 suspects, as disclosed by the military.
The Palestinian Red Crescent reported evacuating 500 families, approximately 3,000 people, from the Jenin camp. Meanwhile, power and water supplies remained severed in the camp and certain parts of the city due to the inadvertent damage caused by bulldozers searching for improvised explosive devices, which led to the disruption of cables and a primary water pipe.
According to the Palestinian health ministry, reported by India Today, around 100 individuals sustained injuries during the conflict, with 20 of them in serious condition. While the Islamic Jihad claimed four of the 12 fatalities as their fighters, Hamas laid claim to one. The status of the remaining casualties remains unclear, although Israeli officials maintained that no civilians were among the casualties, to the best of their knowledge.
This recent bout of fighting serves as a stark reminder of the persistent absence of a political resolution to the protracted conflict. International reactions to the operation varied, with the United States acknowledging Israel’s right to self-defense while emphasizing the need to avoid civilian casualties. The European Union expressed grave concerns over the escalating situation, while various United Nations bodies voiced alarm at the magnitude of the military action.
In response to the operation, the UN Security Council has decided to convene a closed-door meeting, as per the request of the United Arab Emirates. Furthermore, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain have openly condemned the military operation, adding to the mounting international pressure.
In solidarity with the affected Palestinians, numerous businesses across the West Bank participated in a general strike on Tuesday, protesting what the Palestinian Authority has labeled a “war crime.”
