In a renewed operation in the West Bank city of Jenin, Israeli forces conducted drone strikes for the second time in less than two weeks, leading to a gunbattle that lasted into the morning and resulted in the deaths of at least three Palestinians. The Jenin Brigades, comprising various resistance groups based in the city’s refugee camp, engaged the Israeli forces as the sounds of gunfire and explosives reverberated throughout the area. At least six drones were observed circling over the city and the densely populated camp, which accommodates approximately 14,000 people in less than half a square kilometer.
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Local ambulance driver Khaled Alahmad described the situation in the refugee camp as a real war, with strikes targeting the camp from the sky, resulting in numerous injured individuals requiring medical attention. The Palestinian health ministry confirmed the deaths of three people and the injury of 27 others in Jenin. Additionally, another man was killed in Ramallah after being shot in the head at a checkpoint.
The Israeli military stated that their forces had targeted a building serving as a command center for the Jenin Brigades, describing it as part of an extensive “counterterrorism” effort in the West Bank. Prior to a strike on June 21 near Jenin, Israeli drone strikes in the West Bank had not been conducted since 2006. However, due to the escalating violence and the strain on ground forces, the military indicated that such tactics may continue based on precise intelligence.
The significance of Jenin in the ongoing violence across the occupied West Bank was underscored by the scale of the raid. The city is home to hundreds of fighters from resistance groups such as Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and Fatah. Israeli forces claim that these groups possess a range of smuggled or stolen weapons, as well as an increasing arsenal of explosive devices. The Monday raid, involving a “brigade-size” force of approximately 1,000-2,000 troops, aimed to disrupt the camp’s perceived safe haven and dismantle the activities of resistance groups.
The operation’s repercussions and potential wider response from Palestinian factions, including those in the Gaza Strip controlled by Hamas, remain uncertain. The Islamic Jihad group in Gaza released a statement vowing to confront the enemy and defend the Palestinian people, indicating that all options are open to strike back against the aggression on Jenin.
As daylight broke in Jenin, residents set tires on fire, filling the streets with thick black smoke, while calls to support the fighters echoed through mosque loudspeakers. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’s spokesperson condemned the operation as a new war crime against their defenseless people.
The Israeli military claimed that the targeted building served as an advanced observation and reconnaissance center, weapons and explosives site, as well as a coordination and communications hub for the fighters. An aerial photograph provided by the military indicated the location of the target near two schools and a medical center.
The escalating violence in the West Bank over the past 15 months has raised international concerns, with frequent army raids, attacks by Palestinians against Israelis, and violent incidents involving Jewish settler groups targeting Palestinian villages. Peace talks, previously facilitated by the United States, have been stalled since 2014, further exacerbating the tensions in the region.
