The Israeli escalation in the West Bank continues. For the fifth consecutive day, bloody clashes persist in the city of Jenin and its refugee camp.
In the latest developments, Israeli media reported the death of three Israeli policemen and the injury of three soldiers in a shooting near the Tarqumiyah checkpoint, west of Hebron in the West Bank.
The media reported that Palestinian gunmen opened fire on several vehicles near Hebron, including a police car and a bus, before withdrawing from the area. The army confirmed the shooting incident, stating that three people were injured, and security forces are currently searching for the attackers.
So far, the clashes have resulted in the deaths of 22 Palestinians and one Israeli soldier. Local sources indicated that Israeli forces have set fire to several public and private properties and have been firing live ammunition and tear gas at the residents of the refugee camp.
Local sources also reported that the clashes continue across Jenin, with streets deserted except for Israeli military vehicles, while drones hover overhead.
The Israeli army stated that it launched the operation to “combat what it calls terrorism,” deploying armored vehicles supported by the air force to Jenin, Tulkarm, Tubas, and their refugee camps.
Sources confirmed that 80% of the city and the entire camp have lost water supply due to the destruction of networks, and technical teams are unable to reach the networks to redirect the supply to other areas.
“Aimed at Displacing Palestinians”
In this context, Muhammad al-Hourani, a member of Fatah’s Revolutionary Council, emphasized that Israel’s military operations in the West Bank are aimed at displacing Palestinians. He told “Al-Arabiya” on Saturday that Hamas is calling for escalation in the West Bank, which contradicts its demands for a ceasefire in Gaza. He added that Hamas’s calls for escalation in the West Bank could turn the situation into a tragedy, urging Hamas not to escalate.
Al-Hourani also noted that Israel’s appointment of an officer to manage Gaza is intended to prolong the war and could lead to a permanent occupation of the strip.
Increase in Violence
It is worth noting that the West Bank, occupied by Israel since 1967, has seen escalating violence for over a year, but the situation has worsened since the Gaza war began on October 7, 2023, following an unprecedented Hamas attack on southern Israel.
The violence by extremist settlers against Palestinian civilians has also increased, prompting the U.S. administration to impose sanctions on several groups. European countries have condemned the settler violence, warning of its dangers, and the European Union has threatened to impose sanctions on National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who is a staunch defender of settler attacks and violations.
