Israeli forces continued their deadly raid in Jenin in the occupied West Bank, destroying infrastructure and forcing the displacement of around 2,000 families.
Wednesday’s operations included the bulldozing of key streets and come a day after ground and air attacks killed at least 10 people in Jenin governorate.
Kamal Abu al-Rub, the governor of Jenin, was quoted by the AFP news agency as saying the situation in Jenin was “very difficult.”
“The occupying army bulldozed all the roads leading to the Jenin (refugee) camp and the Jenin government hospital. … There are shots and explosions,” he added.
According to al-Rub, Israeli forces also arrested around 20 people from villages near Jenin.
The Israeli army said in a statement on Wednesday that it had carried out air attacks against “terrorist infrastructure sites”, adding that “many explosives planted on the roads” had been “dismantled”.
“Israeli forces are continuing the operation,” the statement added.
Jenin resident Adel Besher told Tel Aviv Tribune that he had to spend the night in a hospital courtyard because he could not return home during Israeli operations.
“Even though my house is 200 meters from here, I couldn’t reach it. There are many injured, including doctors, nurses and patients,” he said.
“There were also three or four people injured near my house, and no one could help them. Israeli forces shot anyone who approached them. Two were injured while trying to rescue them.
The operation in Jenin, where the Israeli army has carried out multiple large-scale raids and incursions in recent years, comes days after a ceasefire took effect in the Gaza Strip and highlights the threatens further violence in the West Bank.
Before the Israeli action, Palestinian Authority security forces carried out a week-long operation to regain control of the city of Jenin as well as its refugee camp.
Yesterday, Israeli security forces launched a massive operation #JenineCamp and the city, using advanced weapons and methods of warfare, including airstrikes. At least ten Palestinians were killed and more than forty injured. The operation is expected to last several days. (1/3)
–Roland Friedrich (@GRFriedrich) January 22, 2025
Last week, an Israeli air raid on the refugee camp killed at least three Palestinians and injured many others.
The head of UNRWA, the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, in the West Bank said the Jenin camp was “almost uninhabitable.”
“Some 2,000 families displaced since mid-December. UNRWA was unable to provide full services to the camp during this period,” Roland Friedrich said on X.
Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur for the occupied Palestinian territories, has condemned what she calls Israel’s “death machine” and its attacks on Jenin.
“If not forced to stop, Israel’s genocide of Palestinians will not be limited to Gaza. Mark my words,” she said on X.
Watch: Israeli forces kidnap several young men and subject them to abuse near Al-Awda roundabout in Jenin. pic.twitter.com/t2nmz6MxF3
– Quds Information Network (@QudsNen) January 22, 2025
Raids elsewhere
Israeli forces also stormed the town of Deir Sammit, west of Hebron, attacking the homes of prisoners who were to be released as part of the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
The army also stormed the Aida camp in Bethlehem in the south, launching a large-scale campaign of arrests.
Wafa, the Palestinian news agency, reported that Israeli forces increased security for the third consecutive day at most entrances and exits to West Bank governorates.
Videos shared by Palestinians and verified by Tel Aviv Tribune showed dozens of vehicles stuck in traffic at the Atara checkpoint near Ramallah due to increased security.
Israeli raids in the West Bank have intensified since Israel’s war on Gaza began on October 7, 2023. Nearly 900 people have been killed there and more than 9,700 arrested, according to local rights groups and officials. health.