Israeli Forces Conduct Major Raids in West Bank, Jenin Under Siege

In a significant escalation of tensions, Israeli military forces have conducted extensive raids across the occupied West Bank, resulting in the deaths of at least nine individuals, according to Palestinian officials. The city of Jenin has been effectively sealed off, with Israeli forces blocking all exit and entry points, including access to hospitals.

Kamal Abu al Rub, the governor of Jenin, reported on Palestinian radio that Israeli forces had surrounded the city, erecting dirt barriers to block roads leading to medical facilities. The Palestinian government has issued a warning about the potential “repercussions” of these actions, stating that hospitals are under siege and that any incursion poses a direct threat to the lives of patients and medical staff.

The Israeli military confirmed its operations in Jenin and Tulkarm. Seven individuals were killed in Tubas, another West Bank city, and two more in Jenin, as reported by the Palestinian Health Ministry. The ministry identified the deceased in Jenin as Qassam Jabarin, 25, and Asem Balout, 39.

Images from a morgue in Tubas show multiple casualties from the latest attacks, indicating that the Israeli military is operating in several cities within the territory. The armed wings of Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and Fatah have released statements confirming that their fighters are engaged in clashes with Israeli forces in these areas.

Clashes with the Israeli military in the West Bank have surged since the October 7 attacks and the subsequent invasion of Gaza. Additionally, Israeli settlers have been conducting frequent vigilante-style attacks on Palestinian communities.

Israel described the overnight operation as a “counter-terrorism” strike. Foreign Minister Israel Katz stated on X, “The IDF has been operating with intensity since last night in the refugee camps of Jenin and Tulkarm to thwart Islamic-Iranian terrorist infrastructures that have been established there.” Katz accused Iran of attempting to establish an “eastern terrorist front” and declared, “This is a full-fledged war, and we must win it.”

Separately, the IDF reported that it had “eliminated five terrorists” operating in the Nur Shams area of the West Bank on Monday. Among those killed was Jibril Jasan Ismail, who had been released as part of a hostage swap agreement in November 2023. The IDF also named Mohanad Qarawi, Muhammad Yussef, and Adnan Jaber as among the deceased.

Thousands of Palestinians have been arrested in recent military raids in the West Bank, with at least 637 killed since the October 7 attacks, according to Palestinian health ministry figures. The casualties include armed fighters, stone-throwing youths, and uninvolved civilians. At least 30 Israelis have been killed in attacks in Jerusalem and the West Bank during the same period.

Additionally, at least 16 more people have been killed in Israeli strikes within Gaza, as reported by Palestinian officials on Wednesday. Among the dead in the southern city of Khan Younis were five women and three children. The Nasser Hospital confirmed that a brother and sister, along with a relative, were killed in their home in the east of the city.

Meanwhile, in central Gaza, an Israeli airstrike late on Tuesday killed local journalist Mohamed Abdrabu and his sister.

The latest round of Israeli attacks comes as the US, Egypt, and Qatar continue efforts to mediate a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. Despite recent optimism, including a statement by US President Joe Biden that they were “closer than we’ve ever been” to a deal, several obstacles remain. One key issue is the ongoing presence of Israeli forces in Gaza, as reported by Sky News’ Middle East correspondent Alistair Bunkall.

Israel wants to maintain forces in the enclave for security and strategic reasons, including preventing Hamas from rearming through routes such as the Philadelphi corridor, which has been used by the militant group for many years.

According to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza, a total of 40,534 people have been killed since Israel launched its military response there after the October 7 attacks. The ministry does not distinguish between combatants and civilians in its figures.