Israeli troops seem to retreat from Jenin – though the mission could still be ongoing

Israeli forces have reportedly pulled back from three refugee camps in the occupied West Bank after a weeklong military operation resulting in numerous casualties and significant destruction. The withdrawal was observed in the Jenin refugee camp, with no remaining troops seen in the area as of early Friday morning. The military operation targeted militants in Jenin, Tulkarem, and Al-Faraa refugee camps to combat what Israeli officials described as increasingly sophisticated and deadly attacks on Israeli civilians.
By Friday, troops had also left the Tulkarem camp, while the Al-Faraa camp had been vacated earlier. However, the Israeli military indicated that the operation was still ongoing, aiming to achieve its counterterrorism objectives. The operation, described as the deadliest in the occupied West Bank since the Israel-Hamas conflict erupted nearly 11 months ago, involved hundreds of Israeli troops and was characterized by the use of intense military tactics.
The Jenin refugee camp faced severe damage and disruption, with services like water and electricity cut off, families confined to their homes, and ambulances encountering obstacles in evacuating the wounded due to military searches for militants. Israeli forces deployed bulldozers to search for buried explosives, leading to significant infrastructure destruction. An Israeli military official acknowledged the devastation but attributed it to the militant strategy of placing explosives in civilian areas.
In the aftermath of the operation, residents in Jenin and Tulkarem assessed the extensive damage to their communities, expressing dismay at the destruction that set them back decades. Meanwhile, in southern Gaza, health workers resumed a polio vaccination campaign following the confirmation of the first polio case in 25 years in a 10-month-old boy. The World Health Organization aimed to vaccinate 640,000 Palestinian children in Gaza against polio, with the campaign coordinated with UNICEF and local health organizations.
The conflict between Israel and Hamas, which began with a surprise attack by militants on Israel in Gaza, has resulted in significant casualties on both sides. Despite international pressure for a ceasefire, negotiations have been complicated by disagreements, including Israeli demands for continued control of the Philadelphi corridor along Gaza’s border with Egypt. Hamas has offered to release hostages in exchange for the end of the war, Israeli withdrawal, and the release of Palestinian prisoners, following a proposal by U.S. President Joe Biden.
The situation remains tense as efforts continue to reach a resolution and alleviate the humanitarian crisis affecting civilians in the conflict areas.