Israel Launches Extensive Operation in Jenin

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News

JERUSALEM (Worthy News)— The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched its most extensive operation in Jenin since the Second Intifada. At least eight Palestinians were killed and 50 injured on Monday as fighting escalated between Palestinian militants and Israeli forces in the Jenin refugee camp in the West Bank, authorities said.

Monday’s violence broke out after Israel’s military began one of its most extensive operations in the Palestinian area in nearly two decades.

Witnesses said Israel used drone strikes and hundreds of troops on an open-ended mission into a militant stronghold of camp in the West Bank city of Jenin.

Israel said it targeted a “unified command center” for militants of the Jenin Brigades in the densely populated refugee camp in the Palestinian city of Jenin in the West Bank.

The Israeli Defense Forces said soldiers found “explosive devices, weapons, and military equipment” used by terrorist organizations in the camp during the operation.

But residents of the area, which has been at the heart of an escalating spiral of violence over the last year, claimed civilian infrastructure was hit.

They described being shaken awake at midnight by the bombing before seeing military bulldozers charge through the neighborhoods.

BULLDOZERS SEEN

“There are bulldozers destroying the streets, snipers are inside and on roofs of houses, drones are hitting houses, and Palestinians are killed in the streets,” said Jamal Huweil, a political activist in the camp.

Throughout the day, black smoke rose from the crowded streets of the camp, a densely populated neighborhood that is home to some 14,000 people, witnesses said.

Exchanges of fire rang out, and drones could be heard buzzing overhead, according to reporters and residents. Military bulldozers plowed through narrow streets, damaging buildings as they cleared the way for Israeli forces, reporters said.

Israel vehemently denies deliberately targeting civilian sites but accuses Palestinian militants of using civilians as human shields.

Israel’s declared crackdown on militants was reminiscent of Israeli military tactics during the second Palestinian uprising in the early 2000s.

The military raid came at a time of growing domestic pressure for a harsh response to recent attacks on Israeli settlers, including a shooting last month that killed four Israelis. However the clashes added to the suffering of some 14,000 people in the camp.

Throughout the day, black smoke rose over the densely populated neighborhood while exchanges of fire rang out, and drones could be heard buzzing overhead.

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