By Alya Ahmad
JENIN, 8 July 2023: Israel launched one of the largest military operations in recent years in the West Bank before withdrawing from the Palestinian city of Jenin.
Israeli military spokesman, Daniel Hagari told local media that all troops had been withdrawn from Jenin and the operation was complete. Witnesses reported seeing Israeli military vehicles leaving Jenin after dark.
Palestinian terrorists in the Gaza Strip fired five rockets towards Israel when the Israeli army left. There was no immediate injury report when they came out. In retaliation, Israel said its warplanes targeted an underground weapons manufacturing facility in Gaza.
The Jenin refugee camp survivors embarked on the difficult task of clearing and repairing their shelters, removing rubble, and constructing embankments before dawn. Masked men with M-16 rifles and various tribal flags carried a body on a stretcher, as do warriors gathered for an afternoon funeral.
According to the Israeli army, Operation Jenin, which killed 12 Palestinians including at least five fighters, was aimed at destroying property and equipment in the Jenin refugee camp. The military said an Israeli soldier was killed with accurate ammunition while fleeing Jenin. To add to that, dozens of people, including civilians, were injured in the attack, according to medics.
According to Sven Kuehn von Burgsdorff, European Union representative to the Palestinian territories, “The military assault on Jenin was painful. What happened is a violation of international law.”
“This cycle of violence has to end; it cannot continue. If there is no political solution to the conflict, we are going to stand here in a week’s time, in a month’s time, in a year’s time, with nothing changed.”
Approximately 18,000 people live in the refugee camp, which is one of the poorest and most crowded areas in the occupied West Bank. Its total area is only 0.43 square kilometres.
“To restore services and scale up support to the children, we need cash… Our appeal is desperately underfunded,” said Leni Stenseth, deputy commissioner-general of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees.
“I would urge you to consider announcing your support for the work we are going to do here in Jenin camp in the coming weeks and months as soon as possible.”***
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