Israeli raids in northern West Bank: 27 dead, major destruction in Jenin and Tulkarem

Raids increase death toll to 27 (X)

Israeli forces persisted with their military raids in the northern West Bank, leading to a rising death toll reported by the Palestinian health ministry, which now stands at at least 27. An overnight air strike in Tulkarem, targeting militants, tragically resulted in the death of a 15-year-old Palestinian, according to a hospital source in the city.

The Palestinian health ministry stated, "There are 30 martyrs and about 130 wounded in the West Bank since Wednesday," when Israeli forces began their coordinated raids. This toll includes three deaths in the Hebron area in the southern West Bank, which are not related to the northern raids.

As Israel’s significant "counter-terrorism" operation in the northern West Bank entered its seventh day, the focus remained on Jenin. The Palestinian health ministry reported at least 18 deaths in Jenin since Wednesday. The military announced that on Monday, its forces killed 14 militants in Jenin and apprehended "25 terrorists."

In a separate incident, the health ministry reported that a 16-year-old girl was killed by the Israeli army in Kfar Dan, Jenin governorate, though it was unclear if she was included in the 18 deaths reported in the area.

An AFP correspondent noted that Jenin’s streets were deserted and shops closed on Tuesday, with Israeli armoured vehicles, bulldozers, and ambulances visible. Israeli bulldozers have overturned paved streets to uncover hidden explosive devices, according to the army.

The Jenin city council reported that 70 percent of the roads and streets have been destroyed since the raid began. Municipality spokesman Bashir Matahen mentioned that about 20 kilometres of water, sewage, communication, and electricity lines were damaged, including 80 percent of the city's water pipes. The municipality lacks the funds for necessary repairs.

Jenin and its nearby refugee camp have been strongholds of Palestinian armed groups resisting Israeli occupation since 1967. While the Israeli military frequently conducts incursions into Palestinian areas, simultaneous operations as seen recently in the northern West Bank are rare.

Surging Violence

In Tulkarem, near Jenin, the Israeli military reported on Monday night that its aircraft targeted a Palestinian militant cell "that shot at security forces during the counter-terrorism operation." A medical source at Tulkarem government hospital told AFP that a 15-year-old was killed in the strike, which also injured his father and four others.

The Palestinian Red Crescent reported treating several shrapnel injuries in Tulkarem, including one involving a paramedic.

On Tuesday, Israeli military vehicles, including bulldozers, were observed on Tulkarem’s streets, where roads have been damaged or destroyed, according to an AFP journalist. One man stood defiantly with a Palestinian flag in front of the bulldozers.

Further south, Israeli forces raided the Birzeit University campus near Ramallah before dawn, confiscating property from the student council, the institution said.

Violence has surged in the Palestinian territories since Hamas's October 7 attack triggered conflict in Gaza, which is separated from the West Bank by Israeli territory.

According to UN figures, at least 637 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank since the Gaza war began, while Israeli officials report at least 23 Israelis, including soldiers, have been killed in Palestinian attacks during the same period.

(Inputs From AFP)