6 Palestinians killed as Israel launches operation in Jenin

At least 6 Palestinians have been killed and 35 wounded since Israeli security forces launched a major operation in Jenin in the West Bank, the Palestinian Ministry of Health said.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the Israeli military, police and Shin Bet security services had launched a major and significant operation to “eliminate terrorism” in Jenin.

Palestinian media reported that Israeli military vehicles entered Jenin and the refugee camp on Tuesday morning after several drone strikes.

It follows a weeks-long crackdown by Palestinian security forces against militant groups including Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, which they see as a challenge to their authority.

The Israeli Prime Minister said in a statement that the operation is another step to achieve our goal in the West Bank, to strengthen security.

“We will work systematically and decisively on the Iranian axis where it sends the weapons – in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen and the (West Bank),” he said.

An Israeli military statement called the operation “Iron Wall” and said it would “continue as long as necessary.”

“What is happening is an invasion of the camp,” Jenin governor Kamal Abu al-Roub told the AFP news agency.

“It came quickly, Apache (helicopters) in the sky and Israeli tanks everywhere,” he said.

In the year October 7, 2023 Violence in the West Bank escalates after Hamas launches a deadly attack on Israel and the subsequent war in Gaza.

Hundreds of Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank and in Israel as the Israeli army escalates its offensive, saying they are trying to counter the worst Palestinian violence against Palestinians.

Israel After taking control of the West Bank in the Middle East war in 1967, it built about 160 settlements for about 700,000 Jews. Although Israel disputes this, the settlements are considered illegal under international law.