For over a week, Israeli forces have been conducting a major operation in the occupied West Bank, focusing on the Jenin refugee camp, a hotspot of Palestinian militancy that intensified following an attack by Hamas on Israel that triggered the ongoing war. The operation has led to the deaths of 33 Palestinians, primarily militants, out of which 18 were in Jenin, and Israel anticipates the death toll to rise as they engage with Hamas and other groups.

Israeli officials justify the operation in Jenin, Tulkarem, and Al-Faraa refugee camp as a response to sophisticated attacks on Israeli civilians. The military action has impacted Palestinian civilians, with services like water and electricity cut off, families confined to their homes, and ambulances facing delays due to Israeli searches for militants.

Jenin holds historical significance in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, originally housing Palestinians displaced during the 1948 war. Over time, it evolved into a densely populated neighborhood under Israeli occupation since 1967. The Palestinian Authority’s influence in Jenin has waned, with militant groups like Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Hamas operating freely in the area.

Since the conflict erupted on October 7, Israeli forces have intensified raids on Jenin, employing tactics like drone strikes. The surge in violence in the West Bank includes clashes between Israeli settlers and Palestinians, along with an uptick in settlement construction. Military operations aim to prevent attacks on Israeli civilians rather than eradicate militant activity entirely.

Residents of Jenin have reported widespread destruction and disruptions, with Israeli soldiers conducting house-to-house searches and roadblocks with bulldozers. Families have been separated, and basic services cut off, leading to a humanitarian crisis. Despite no official curfew, many parts of Jenin remain inaccessible, complicating efforts by organizations like the Palestinian Red Crescent to provide essential supplies.

Although the Israeli military insists on targeting militant strongholds in Jenin, concerns persist about the long-term impact of such operations on regional stability. With the situation escalating, analysts remain cautious about the effectiveness of military actions in curbing West Bank militancy, emphasizing broader geopolitical dynamics at play in the conflict.