At least 20 people have been killed in Israel’s largest military operation in decades, as Israeli forces conduct raids in the Jenin refugee camp in the occupied West Bank. The raids have blocked access to aid for Palestinians in the besieged camp, with residents pleading for food, water, and medical assistance that is being obstructed by Israeli forces. Palestinian fighters have engaged in gun battles with Israeli troops, as Hamas reports clashes in the village of Kafr Dan.
The Israeli army claims its goal is to target armed groups in the West Bank and prevent future attacks, with 20 Palestinian fighters killed and 17 arrested. However, Palestinian residents accuse Israel of causing destruction in the area in an effort to make the territory uninhabitable and push them out of their homes. The military incursion has destroyed infrastructure, roads, water, and electricity facilities.
Tensions escalated in the south of the West Bank after two separate incidents where Israeli soldiers shot dead Palestinians suspected of attempting to attack Israelis. The army responded to a vehicle explosion at a gas station and an attempted attack at an illegal settlement, resulting in injuries and one assailant being killed.
The situation in Hebron, the largest district in the territory with about one million people, remains tense as Israeli forces set up checkpoints. The ongoing raids in the West Bank are the largest and most violent since the start of Israel’s war on Gaza, with about 600 Palestinians killed. The number of detentions has risen to about 70 since the beginning of the assault, according to Palestinian organizations.
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