Israeli military operation: Palestinians shot dead in Jenin

Nine Palestinians were killed and at least 20 injured in an Israeli army operation in the Palestinian city of Jenin. Israel justified the raid with an impending terrorist attack. The Palestinians call for action against the “Israeli killing machine”.

According to Palestinian sources, nine people have been killed in clashes between Israeli soldiers and armed Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. At least 20 people were injured in the Jenin incident, the Palestinian Ministry of Health announced. The nine dead are therefore a 60-year-old woman and eight men.

In another statement, Palestinian Health Minister Mai al-Kaila said the Israeli military “stormed into a hospital in Jenin and intentionally fired tear gas canisters at the hospital’s children’s ward.” She described the situation in the refugee camp as “critical” and said Israeli forces were preventing ambulances from reaching the injured.

Jenin Governor Akram Radhub told the AP news agency that tear gas had penetrated the hospital and operations had to be stopped.

The armed Palestinian groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad spoke of a fight with Israeli soldiers who entered the Jenin refugee camp. Local youths reportedly threw stones at Israeli army vehicles at the entrances to the camp’s narrow streets. Shots and explosions were also heard.

Israel’s army: indication of planned terrorist attack

The Israeli military confirmed an operation in the city and justified it with information about an imminent terrorist attack. No information was given on the allegation that tear gas was used. The soldiers were supposed to arrest members of a Palestinian militant group with ties to the Islamic Jihad organization, it said.

A firefight ensued, during which the soldiers aimed at extremists who had planned and carried out attacks on Israelis. Three terrorist suspects were “neutralized” and others shot while attempting to escape. At least one of those killed was identified as an extremist.

Itamar Ben Gvir, of the ruling Jewish Power Party and Israel’s new Minister of National Security, said: “I congratulate the riot police, the army and the secret service, who had a very successful operation in Jenin. Any terrorist who tries to invade our forces hurt will know that he will suffer the harm. We support our soldiers in the war against terrorists. Every fighter, every police officer, every soldier knows that they have the full support of the Israeli government, the Ministry of National Security and the Police Commissioner .”

End of “Israeli killing machine” demanded

A member of Islamic Jihad said it had contacted the brokers of previous ceasefires with Israel and warned that violence in Jenin could lead to an escalation in other areas.

The Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, a militia affiliated with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ party, said one of those killed was among its fighters.

Abbas’ office condemned the incident as “a massacre by the Israeli occupation government in the shadow of international silence.” The Palestinian Foreign Ministry called on the international community and the United States to take “immediate action” against the “Israeli killing machine.”

Are the Palestinians now threatened with a rocket attack?

A general strike was ordered for the Palestinian territories. According to a report in Haaretz newspaper, the Israeli army is also preparing for possible rocket fire from the Gaza Strip, where Islamic Jihad has a base.

The former general and head of the Israel Central Command, Avi Mizrahi, said: “It may well be that we will see sporadic rocket fire, which will then have to be responded to. But I don’t think that a major military operation in Gaza will develop from this . I don’t think any party is interested in that.”

Israel increased raids after attacks and attacks

Jenin is among areas in the northern West Bank where Israel has stepped up crackdowns on Palestinian militants after extremists carried out stabbings and other attacks in Israeli towns. The ongoing violence clouds the prospect of a revival of talks on a conflict resolution between Israelis and Palestinians.

Today’s death toll brings the number of Palestinians killed in the West Bank so far this year to 29. Most of them were shot dead by Israeli forces. According to the Israeli human rights organization B’Tselem, nearly 150 Palestinians were killed last year, making 2022 the deadliest since 2004. According to Israeli information, most of the dead were militants, but there were also demonstrators and bystanders.

dispute over the West Bank

In 1967, Israel conquered the West Bank and East Jerusalem, among others. More than 600,000 Israeli settlers live there today. However, the Palestinians claim the areas for an independent state of Palestine with the Arab-dominated eastern part of Jerusalem as the capital.

Many Palestinians view the recent operations as an attempt by Israel to consolidate its rule in the West Bank.

With information from Jan-Christoph Kitzler, ARD Studio Tel Aviv