(Palestinian Territories) JENIN In a massive operation Monday in the occupied West Bank that the army described as a “extensive counterterrorism effort” including drone strikes and hundreds of soldiers, Israeli authorities murdered eight Palestinians.
Israeli Army Raid In West Bank: The hard-right government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu carried out the largest attack in the West Bank in recent memory, targeting the northern city of Jenin with armoured vehicles, army bulldozers, and drones.
Palestinians threw rocks at soldiers as firefights and explosions rocked the city and nearby refugee camp, a militant stronghold, and smoke from explosions and burning barricades obscured the sky, according to an AFP correspondent.
Director of the Palestinian Red Crescent in Jenin Mahmoud al-Saadi stated that “there is aerial bombing and an invasion on the ground.”
There have been bombings at several homes and locations, and smoke is billowing everywhere.
The Palestinian health ministry reported that 50 people were hurt, 10 of them critically, exceeding the seven fatalities from an Israeli operation on Jenin two weeks prior that made use of helicopter missile fire.
The Israeli army had “launched an open war against the people of Jenin,” according to the Palestinian Foreign Ministry.
Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen told reporters that “we are striking the terrorism hub with great strength” during the operation on Monday, which involved “brigade-level” soldier numbers.
“Gunfire Erupts at Mosque in Jenin Camp; Weapons and Explosives Discovered: Military Reports”
The military reported that gunmen and soldiers exchanged gunfire at a mosque in the Jenin camp, and later discovered weapons and explosives at the scene.
“I saw them taking bulldozers into the camp, they were destroying buildings,” said Jenin resident Badr Shagoul to AFP. These were residences of persons.
An AFP correspondent observed that hospital mortuary personnel wrapped several deceased individuals in blankets, while others had heavy bandages. Additionally, the correspondent reported that combat persisted into the evening on Monday.
“We have many injured from explosives dropped from aeroplanes and many having bullet injuries,” said nurse Qasem Benighader.
“This is the worst raid I’ve seen in the last five years.”
Israel has already increased operations in the northern West Bank, where there have been a number of recent attacks on Israelis as well as settler violence against Palestinians.
Mahmoud Hawashin, a resident of the Jenin camp, described the situation as “catastrophic” and said that “there is a reply to every move.