The Israeli military has launched a large-scale operation in the northern West Bank, targeting cities including Jenin, Tulkarm, and Tubas, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict. The operation, which began on August 27, 2024, has resulted in multiple Palestinian casualties and heightened tensions in the region.According to Palestinian sources, at least nine Palestinians have been killed and many others injured in the first hours of the operation. The Israeli military has employed a combination of ground troops, drones, and airstrikes in their efforts to counter what they describe as terrorism. Israeli army spokesperson Avichay Adraee stated, ‘Security forces have begun an operation to thwart terrorism in Jenin and Tulkarm’.The operation has been characterized by intense military activity, with reports of hospitals being surrounded in Tulkarm and Jenin, and ambulances being prevented from operating in some areas. The Palestinian Red Crescent has reported difficulties in reaching the injured, particularly in the Faria Refugee Camp in Tubas.Palestinian factions have responded to the Israeli operation with calls for resistance. The Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades, the military wing of Fatah, announced that its fighters are ‘confronting the Zionist invasion in the field with machine guns and explosive devices’. The Islamic Jihad movement condemned the operation, describing it as ‘a comprehensive war on the cities of northern occupied West Bank and their refugee camps’.This escalation comes against the backdrop of increasing violence in the West Bank since the start of the Gaza war in October 2023. According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, at least 659 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since October 7, 2023. The Israeli military operation is expected to last for several weeks, potentially further exacerbating tensions in the region.
Key points
- Israeli military launched a large-scale operation in the northern West Bank, targeting Jenin, Tulkarm, and Tubas.
- At least nine Palestinians have been reported killed in the initial stages of the operation.
- Palestinian factions, including Fatah’s Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades and Islamic Jihad, have called for resistance against the Israeli operation.
- The operation is set against a backdrop of escalating violence, with 659 Palestinians reportedly killed in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since October 2023.
Contradictions👾There are varying reports on the number of Palestinian casualties, with some sources reporting seven deaths, while others report nine or more.
👾While most sources describe this as a new, large-scale operation, some reports suggest it’s a continuation or escalation of ongoing conflict.
