By AGGREY BULUBA
In wartime, even the strong fear the unknown. The town of Tamun is now filled with sorrow, its buildings in ruins and streets stained with blood.
The Israeli military (IDF) reports that it attacked a group of “armed terrorists” based on intelligence from the Shin Bet security service. Unlike Gaza, where a fragile ceasefire exists, Israel has intensified military actions in the West Bank, particularly around Jenin, north of Tamun.
For the past week, Israeli forces, supported by helicopters, drones, and armored vehicles, have stormed Jenin and its refugee camp, a stronghold for armed Palestinian groups like Hamas and Islamic Jihad. This violence has displaced over 20,000 people, leaving behind destroyed homes and ravaged roads.
Since January 21, when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a major military operation, at least 16 Palestinians have been killed in Jenin, with many more wounded, according to the Palestinian health ministry. Among the deceased was a two-year-old girl shot in the head, and at least six were identified as fighters.
In the northern West Bank, 14 additional Palestinians have died, including 10 in Tamun during Wednesday’s attack.
The Israeli military stated that its forces have killed 18 “terrorists” and arrested 60 “wanted individuals” in Jenin and Tulkarm in recent days, claiming to have seized weapons and destroyed numerous explosive devices.
Hamas has called on Palestinians in the West Bank to “resist the occupation in every way possible.” Meanwhile, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz visited Jenin, pledging that Israeli forces would remain even after the operation to prevent what he termed the return of “terrorism.”
The Palestinian foreign ministry condemned Katz’s visit and statements, urging the U.S. to intervene and stop what they describe as Israel’s destruction of the West Bank.
Jenin has experienced many Israeli military raids in the past, but tensions have sharply escalated since Hamas’s deadly attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which sparked the war in Gaza. Since then, Israeli forces have conducted frequent operations in the West Bank, claiming to prevent attacks on Israelis.
The West Bank has long been a conflict focal point. Since capturing the territory in 1967, Israel has established approximately 160 settlements, now housing around 700,000 Jewish settlers. The United Nations considers these settlements illegal under international law, a classification disputed by Israel.
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