Israel conducted operations in the occupied West Bank on Wednesday, resulting in the death of at least nine Palestinians and the closure of Jenin city, as reported by Palestinian officials. The Israeli raids have been a frequent occurrence in the West Bank since an attack from Hamas in Gaza on October 7 sparked ongoing conflict in the region.
Palestinian militant groups engaged in clashes with the Israeli military, with reports of Israeli forces encircling Jenin city, restricting movement in and out of the area, blocking access to hospitals, and causing damage to infrastructure. The Palestinian Health Ministry stated that Israeli forces obstructed routes to a hospital using dirt barriers and enforced restrictions around other medical facilities in Jenin.
The Israel Defense Forces confirmed their operations in Jenin and Tulkarem but did not disclose further details. Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz suggested implementing strategies in the West Bank akin to those in Gaza to address security threats, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive approach to win the conflict.
Hamas urged Palestinians in the West Bank to rise up against the Israeli raids, accusing the U.S. of backing Israel and promoting a broader plan to expand the conflict beyond Gaza. The group also called on security forces aligned with the Palestinian Authority to join in resisting the Israeli actions.
According to the Palestinian ministry, over 650 Palestinians have lost their lives to Israeli gunfire in the West Bank since the onset of the Gaza conflict nearly a year ago, mainly during such incursions that often lead to confrontations with militants. Israel defends these operations as necessary to dismantle Hamas and other extremist organizations and prevent attacks on Israeli citizens, which have surged in tandem with the conflict.
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict spans generations, with Israel controlling the West Bank, Gaza, and east Jerusalem since the 1967 Mideast war, while Palestinians aspire to establish a state encompassing all three regions. Israeli settlements, accommodating more than 500,000 Jewish residents, dot the West Bank, where around 3 million Palestinians live under Israeli military governance and limited authority by the Palestinian Authority.
The conflict reignited when Hamas-led militants entered southern Israel on October 7, resulting in extensive casualties and abductions. Subsequent hostilities have claimed numerous lives, displaced a significant portion of Gaza’s populace, and caused widespread destruction through Israeli offensives and ground operations.
Recent Israeli airstrikes in Gaza resulted in the deaths of at least 16 individuals, including women and children. Efforts by the U.S., Qatar, and Egypt to negotiate a cease-fire and release remaining hostages have faced challenges, with Israel striving for a decisive victory over Hamas while the militant group insists on a lasting truce and Israeli withdrawal from occupied territories.
Ongoing mediation efforts have yet to yield a breakthrough, with talks transitioning to Qatar following discussions in Egypt. Despite international engagement, a resolution to the conflict remains elusive as violence and tensions persist in the region.
