Hundreds of Israeli forces target Jenin in the largest operation in the occupied West Bank since the start of the Israel-Hamas war.
Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) have withdrawn from the city of Jenin in the occupied West Bank following ten days of a large-scale military raid, according to Palestinian media.
The operation, which Israeli military officials said targeted militants in Jenin, Tulkarem and the Al-Faraa refugee camp, is said to be the largest Israeli operation in the West Bank since the war between Israel and Hamas began.
The government-run Palestine News Agency, citing the Palestinian Health Ministry, said that 21 Palestinians had been killed as a result of the assault which also caused extensive damage to the city of Jenin.
The IDF, posting on X yesterday, said it had conducted a counterterrorism operation overnight in the West Bank killing Muhammad Zakaria Zubeidi who is the son of prominent jailed militant Zakaria Zubeidi, the Jenin chief of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades, a coalition of Palestinian armed groups in the West Bank.
IDF officials say that the operation, which began on 28 August, is necessary to curb recent attacks against Israeli civilians in the area.
Jenin, originally a refugee camp built to house Palestinians who fled their homes during the war following the creation of Israel in 1948, has seen its water and electricity services cut as a result of the raid.
UN calls humanitarian situation in Gaza ‘beyond catastrophic’
The United Nations says the humanitarian situation in Gaza remains “beyond catastrophic,” with over one million Palestinians not receiving any food rations in August.
UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said the UN’s humanitarian partners lacked sufficient food supplies to meet requirements for the second straight month in central and southern Gaza, “and will only be able to provide one food parcel to families in central and southern Gaza during the September distribution cycle.”
Dujarric said critical shortages of food aid can be explained due to ongoing hostilities, insecurity, damaged roads, the breakdown of law and order, and access limitations.
In the West Bank, he said, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs known as OCHA reports that “Israeli forces continue to utilise lethal war-like tactics, including airstrikes, in Jenin, Tubas and Tulkarm.”
Dujarric added this has resulted in additional fatalities and injuries on Thursday, and destruction or damage to more roads and infrastructure.
“Medical facilities have been virtually besieged for over a week now, with heavy restrictions imposed on the movement of ambulances and medical staff,” Dujarric warned.
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