Deadly Israeli attack in Jenin causes massive displacement, destruction. Israel-Palestine conflict news
Israeli forces have continued their deadly attacks on Jenin in the occupied West Bank, destroying infrastructure and forcing nearly 2,000 families to be displaced.
Wednesday’s crackdown, which included bulldozing major roads, came a day after ground and air attacks killed at least 10 people in Jenin governorate.
Jenin governor Kamal Abu al-Rab was quoted by the AFP news agency as saying that the situation in Jenin was “very difficult”.
“The occupation forces have bulldozed all the roads leading to the Jenin (refugee) camp and the Jenin government hospital. … There are firing and explosions.”
According to al-Rub, Israeli forces also detained about 20 people from villages near Jenin.
The Israeli military said in a statement on Wednesday that it carried out airstrikes on “terrorist infrastructure sites”, adding that “several explosives planted along the routes” were “destroyed”.
“The Israeli military is continuing the operation,” it said.
Jenin resident Adel Beshar told Al Jazeera that he had to spend the night in the hospital courtyard because he was unable to get home during the Israeli operation.
“Although my house is 200 meters (220 yards) away from here, I could not reach there. “There are many injured people, including doctors, nurses and patients,” he said.
“Three or four people were injured near my house too, and no one was able to save them. Israeli forces shot anyone who came close to them. “Two were injured while trying to save them.”
The operation in Jenin, where Israeli forces have carried out numerous raids and large-scale incursions in recent years, comes days after a ceasefire took effect in the Gaza Strip and underlines the risk of more violence in the West Bank.
Before the Israeli action, Palestinian Authority security forces had launched a week-long operation to retake control of the city of Jenin as well as its refugee camp.
Israeli security forces conducted a large-scale operation yesterday #JanineCamp And the city is using advanced weapons and warfare methods, including air strikes. At least ten Palestinians are killed and more than forty are injured. The operation is expected to last for days. (1/3)
– Roland Friedrich (@GRFriedrich) 22 January 2025
At least three Palestinians were killed and several others injured in an Israeli airstrike on a refugee camp last week.
The West Bank director of UNRWA, the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, said the Jenin camp was “virtually deserted”.
“Around 2,000 families have been displaced since mid-December. UNRWA has been unable to provide full services in the camp at this time,” Roland Fredericks said at the X.
Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Envoy for the Occupied Palestinian Territories, condemned Israel’s “machinery of death” and its attacks on Jenin.
“If it is not forced to stop, Israel’s genocide of Palestinians will not be limited to Gaza. Mark my words,” she said on the X.
WATCH: Israeli forces abduct and abuse several young men near al-Awda intersection in Jenin. pic.twitter.com/t2nmz6MxF3
– Quds News Network (@QudsNen) 22 January 2025
raid elsewhere
Israeli forces also attacked the town of Der Samit, west of Hebron, and raided the homes of prisoners being released as part of the first phase of a ceasefire in Gaza between Israel and Hamas.
The army also raided the Aida camp in Bethlehem in the south, launching a large-scale arrest campaign.
Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that Israeli forces tightened security at most entry and exit points of the governorate in the West Bank for the third consecutive day.
Video shared by Palestinians and verified by Al Jazeera showed dozens of vehicles stuck in traffic at the Atara checkpoint near Ramallah due to tight security.
Israeli raids in the West Bank have increased since Israel’s war on Gaza began on October 7, 2023. Nearly 900 people have died there and more than 9,700 have been arrested, according to local rights groups and health officials.
