The Israel Defense Forces and Shin Bet, Israel’s internal security service, have launched a major operation in the West Bank, specifically targeting the cities of Jenin and Tulkarm.
This operation was announced in a brief joint statement early Wednesday and involves multiple cities simultaneously.
The operation aims to target what Israel describes as “terrorist infrastructures,” with temporary evacuations of residents being part of the strategy, according to Israel’s Foreign Minister Israel Katz.
The Israel Border Police are also involved, as noted in an IDF email.
Since the operation began at midnight, at least nine Palestinians have been killed, with the Health Ministry in Ramallah reporting that seven were taken to a hospital in Tubas and two to a hospital in Jenin.
Entry to Tulkarm has been blocked by Israeli forces, which have surrounded two hospitals there, while access to Jenin has also been restricted, according to Al Jazeera and WAFA, the official Palestinian news agency.
Earlier in the week, five Palestinians were killed in an Israeli drone strike in Nur a-Shams, Tulkarm, which the IDF described as eliminating five “terrorists operating within an operations room.”
Additionally, one Palestinian was killed by settlers in the Wadi Rahal village in Bethlehem.
Since October 7, the UN humanitarian affairs office reports that at least 607 Palestinians and 15 Israelis have been killed in the West Bank.
Human Rights Watch has called on Israeli officials to facilitate a polio vaccination campaign in Gaza, following the reemergence of the disease after 25 years.
HRW’s executive director, Tirana Hassan, attributed this to “Israeli authorities’ ongoing attacks on water, sanitation and health,” and highlighted that humanitarians are urgently trying to vaccinate approximately 640,000 children.
The Gaza Health Ministry reports that at least 40,476 people have been killed and 93,647 injured in Gaza since the conflict began, with the majority of casualties being women and children. Israel, on the other hand, estimates that around 1,200 people were killed in the Hamas attack on October 7, including more than 300 soldiers, and reports that 339 soldiers have been killed since the beginning of its military operations in Gaza.
The Israel-Gaza conflict has continued for months and has had significant repercussions across the Middle East.
The unprecedented Hamas attack on October 7 resulted in about 1,200 deaths and civilian hostages being taken. In response, Israel declared war on Hamas, leading to a ground invasion and severe displacement.
The war has been one of the most destructive in recent history, causing extensive casualties and widespread humanitarian issues in Gaza. Despite international pressure, Israel has been reluctant to increase humanitarian aid to the region.
While there are tensions between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and some U.S. officials, including President Biden, the U.S. continues to support Israel with military aid and has taken a stance in the United Nations to block or abstain from cease-fire resolutions.
