Escalating Violence: Six Palestinians Killed in Israeli Military Operation in Jenin

In a major military operation dubbed "Iron Wall," Israeli forces have killed six Palestinians and injured 35 in Jenin. Prime Minister Netanyahu claims the operation aims to combat terrorism, significantly escalating ongoing tensions in the region.

Israeli security forces launched a substantial operation in Jenin, located in the occupied West Bank, which has resulted in the deaths of at least six Palestinians and injuries to an additional 35, according to the Palestinian health ministry. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the operation, involving the military, police, and Shin Bet security service, is aimed at "defeating terrorism" in the region.

Reports from Palestinian media indicated that military vehicles began entering Jenin and its surrounding refugee camp on Tuesday morning, following a series of drone strikes. This military action comes on the heels of weeks of operations conducted by Palestinian security forces against multiple armed factions, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad, whom they view as threats to their governance.

Netanyahu articulated that this operation is part of a broader strategy to bolster security in the West Bank, declaring, "We are acting methodically and with determination against the Iranian axis wherever it reaches." The military operation named "Iron Wall" is expected to persist "as long as necessary," according to an official statement from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

Local authorities, including Jenin's governor Kamal Abu al-Rub, described the incident as an "invasion," detailing the overwhelming presence of Israeli military vehicles and Apache helicopters above. This latest military action underscores the increasing violence in the West Bank, particularly since Hamas's deadly incursion into Israel on October 7, 2023. Israeli forces have intensified their operations, citing the need to counteract escalating Palestinian attacks on Israeli citizens.

Since the Israeli occupation that began in the 1967 Middle East War, approximately 160 settlements housing around 700,000 Jews have been established in the West Bank—an act deemed illegal under international law, despite Israel's ongoing disputes of such classifications.