Two Israelis were fatally shot in the West Bank amid escalating violence during raids in Jenin, leading to a surge in regional tensions.
As part of their ongoing deadly raids, Israel deployed reinforcements in the occupied West Bank city of Jenin and experienced a shooting at a checkpoint in Hebron that resulted in two Israeli security personnel being killed and another being injured.
The Israeli army carried out a shooting during its ongoing attack on Jenin, which had already resulted in the deaths of at least 24 Palestinians for five consecutive days. As part of its intensified operations in the West Bank since declaring war on Gaza on October 7th, Israel has now killed over 500 people overall. Shockingly, within just the past eleven months alone, more than40,000 Palestinian lives have been lost to conflict and violence in Gaza.
Magen David Adom, the national emergency service of Israel, reported on Sunday that one man and woman had lost their lives while a third individual in his 50s was being shifted to hospital with severe injuries after an assault near the Tarqumiyah checkpoint situated southwards from Hebron.
According to the Maariv newspaper, three police officers stationed in Hebron were shot by occupants of a passing Palestinian car.
According to Al Jazeera’s Niba Ibrahim, who is reporting from the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah, previous assaults primarily occurred in the northern region and Jordan Valley vicinity; however, there has been an increase in attacks originating from the southern part of that area.
A raid was being carried out by the Israeli army on the Palestinian village of Idhna, which is near to where the shooting happened.
According to Akram Natsheh, a journalist from Hebron, the Israeli forces have blocked all paths in and out of the southern city. Furthermore, drones were spotted hovering over it as well.
He said that the arrival of Israeli forces in and around the whole area has created an atmosphere full of tension and apprehension, indicating a possible escalation.
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Six individuals, including three females, were reportedly apprehended in the vicinity of Hebron as per reports from Wafa – Palestine News Agency. Furthermore, police carried out raids in Yatta and Halhul nearby towns.
Jenin, a Palestinian city has been under Israeli siege resulting in the denial of basic necessities such as food, water and power. Access to internet is also unavailable for locals while 70% of roads have reportedly been destroyed by bulldozers according to local authorities.
The largest military operation in the West Bank since 2002’s second Intifada saw Israeli troops, supported by tanks, drones and bulldozers, invade Jenin, Tulkarem and Tubas.
The objective of the Israeli military is to eliminate armed factions in order to prevent potential assaults, according to their statement. Several locations have witnessed firearm skirmishes and Hamas confirmed that ten militants, including a senior officer, were fatally wounded during this week’s operations.
Residents are concerned that the Israeli army’s objective is to prolong the conflict in Gaza into the West Bank and displace Palestinians from their homes, due to the trail of devastation left after withdrawing from areas such as Tulkarem and Tubas.
Infrastructure, water pipelines, and the electricity system have sustained severe damage at the hands of the Israeli military.
Al Jazeera’s Ibrahim reported that according to Palestinians, the primary objective of this military campaign – which is the most extensive in over 20 years- is annihilation.
“It’s not considered a matter of security requirement,” she stated, “but rather intended as a reminder to the Palestinians about the consequences they will face if they opt for opposing Israel’s occupation with force.”
