Israeli forces launch largest military operation in Jenin in over 20 years, resulting in multiple casualties.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have initiated a major military operation in the West Bank city of Jenin, marking the largest operation of its kind in more than two decades. According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, at least eight people have been killed, while more than 50 others have sustained injuries.
In a statement released on the IDF's Telegram account, it was stated that the operation aimed to combat terrorism in the area surrounding Jenin and the Jenin Camp. The IDF described it as an extensive counterterrorism effort, targeting terrorist infrastructure. Local residents reported hearing explosions and heavy gunfire, and videos from the scene showed wounded Palestinians being evacuated to hospitals.
The Palestinian Ministry of Health revealed that 10 of the injured are in serious condition, with most of the injuries affecting the upper part of the body. Additionally, five of those killed were teenagers. Another Palestinian was shot and killed by Israeli forces near Ramallah in a separate incident.
Footage shared with journalists indicated ongoing operations in various parts of the Jenin refugee camp, and Israeli military vehicles were seen patrolling the streets of Jenin on Monday morning. However, these videos have not been independently verified.
This military operation comes less than two weeks after another clash in Jenin led to the deaths of five Palestinians and left many others injured. Eight Israeli troops were also injured in that incident.
The IDF claims to have targeted a joint operational command center for the Jenin Camp and operatives of the Jenin Brigade, a Palestinian militant group associated with Islamic Jihad. They described the command center as a hub for coordination, communication, and the storage of weapons and explosives.
Furthermore, the IDF stated that they later targeted a weapons production and explosive device storage facility. During the operation, they seized an improvised rocket launcher and additional weapons. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been briefed on the progress of the operation and has discussed future operational plans.
Hamas has called on militants in the West Bank and Jerusalem to retaliate against Israel, while Palestinian Islamic Jihad has vowed to halt the "massacre" in Jenin. Clashes have continued throughout the day, with the death toll rising. Hamas and other Palestinian factions have condemned the Israeli incursion, referring to it as a new war crime.
The IDF spokesman, Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, stated that the operation is ongoing and that several armed suspects have already been killed. He clarified that their objective is not to hold the ground but to target specific threats. The IDF aims to break the "safe haven" mentality within the Jenin camp, which has been a source of numerous shooting attacks against Israelis.
Approximately 500 soldiers are reportedly involved in the operation. The IDF spokesman did not elaborate on the number of forces but emphasized that this is a substantial brigade-level operation. An Israeli soldier was slightly injured by shrapnel and has been taken to a hospital for treatment.
Amid escalating tensions, the Israeli military is focused on destabilizing the hubs of terrorism in the region, primarily Hamas and Islamic Jihad, whom they accuse of being Iran's proxies. The Palestinian Authority, Jordan, and Egypt have all condemned the Israeli incursion as acts of aggression.