Additional reinforcements deployed in Jenin refugee camp, eyewitnesses report
GAZA — The Israeli military intensified its offensive in the city of Jenin and the adjacent refugee camp on Friday, marking the fourth consecutive day of attacks on Palestinians in the northern occupied West Bank.
Eyewitnesses reported to Anadolu that Israeli forces sent additional reinforcements into the camp, escalating the violence as clashes and explosions reverberated throughout the area.
Since the start of the offensive, Israeli bulldozers have been systematically demolishing infrastructure and commercial properties within the camp.
Witnesses highlighted the destruction of Palestinian homes and the continued use of heavy machinery to raze more structures over the past three days.
The Israeli army has also detained dozens of Palestinians, transferring them to nearby investigation centers, according to local sources.
The Israeli military offensive, now in its fourth day, has claimed at least 12 lives and injured more than 40, according to official Palestinian sources.
On Thursday, Jenin Deputy Governor Mansour al-Saadi warned of a potential large-scale invasion of the Jenin refugee camp by Israeli forces, comparing the possible operation to the relentless violence in the Gaza Strip.
Israeli media reports suggest that the assault on Jenin is a political move by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to appease far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who opposes the current ceasefire in Gaza. Reports indicate that Netanyahu promised the attack to prevent Smotrich from resigning, which could destabilize the government.
Tensions have been running high across the occupied West Bank due to Israel’s ongoing war on Gaza, where nearly 47,300 people have been killed, most of them women and children, and more than 111,500 injured since Oct. 7, 2023.
At least 873 Palestinians have been killed and over 6,700 injured by Israeli forces in the occupied territory, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.
A ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement took effect in Gaza on Jan. 19, suspending the Israeli assault on the enclave.
In July, the International Court of Justice declared Israel’s long-standing occupation of Palestinian territories illegal, calling for the evacuation of all settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. — AA
