Israel launched a major offensive in Jenin, a city in the northern occupied West Bank, days after a ceasefire in Gaza took hold. The attack killed at least seven Palestinians and wounded 35 others, according to Palestinian health ministry reports.
The Israeli military began a “counterterrorism operation” in Jenin, known as the “Iron Wall,” which involved a large deployment of troops, special forces, and intelligence agents. Palestinian resistance fighters responded with gunfire, leading to armed clashes with Israeli soldiers.
Eyewitnesses described chaotic scenes, with bodies on the ground and medical teams unable to reach the wounded due to intense Israeli fire. Ambulances came under gunfire as they attempted to provide aid, and access to several neighborhoods was blocked by Israeli military vehicles.
The Israeli government cited security concerns as justification for the attack, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announcing that it marked “another step towards achieving our goal of enhancing security in the West Bank.”
Reactions from Palestinian groups were swift and condemnatory. Hamas called for a general mobilization against what it termed the “widespread [Israeli] occupation aggression” in Jenin, while the Islamic Jihad movement described the attack as a “brutal and barbaric act.” The attack follows the breakdown of a truce agreement between the Palestinian Authority (PA) and armed groups in Jenin last week.
Source: https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/israel-launches-major-iron-wall-assault-jenin-days-after-gaza-ceasefire