Israeli military says 50 militants killed in weeks-long West Bank operation
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Smoke rising after an Israeli strike, in Jenin, on Feb 2.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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RAMALLAH/JERUSALEM – The Israeli military said on Feb 2 that it had killed at least 50 militants during more than two weeks of operations in the occupied West Bank, earlier levelling buildings in Jenin refugee camp in the territory.
“As part of the operation to thwart terrorism... the IDF (Israel Defence Forces) recently destroyed several buildings in Jenin,” the military said in a statement, adding that the structures “were used as terrorist infrastructure”.
The army later said it had destroyed 23 buildings in the operation.
An AFP journalist reported thick columns of smoke billowing over the surrounding area following the blasts.
Palestinian official news agency Wafa said Israeli forces “simultaneously detonated about 20 buildings” in the eastern part of Jenin refugee camp on Feb 2, adding that the “explosions were heard throughout Jenin city and parts of the neighbouring towns”.
The Palestinian Foreign Ministry, in a statement, condemned the Israeli action “to blow up large neighbourhoods”, describing the result as a “brutal scene”.
The Israeli military launched a major offensive in the West Bank
Later, the military said it had “eliminated over 35 terrorists and apprehended more than 100 wanted individuals”, referring to action during the operation dubbed “Iron Wall”.
“In an advance operation, over 15 terrorists were eliminated in aerial strikes,” it added. An army spokesman told AFP that the operation was launched on Jan 14.
The Palestinian Health Ministry, meanwhile, said the Israeli military killed two individuals in separate incidents in the West Bank on Feb 2.
Israeli soldiers walking with an armoured vehicle in the al-Fara camp for Palestinian refugees, south of Jenin on Feb 2.
PHOTO: AFP
Large deployment
The ministry said a 73-year-old man was killed by Israeli gunfire in the Jenin refugee camp, adjacent to the city.
A 27-year-old was killed also by Israeli army gunfire in Al-Aroub camp, in the southern West Bank, said the Health Ministry and Palestinian Red Crescent, confirming his name as Mohammed Amjad Hadoush.
Witnesses reported a “large” deployment of Israeli forces in the morning around the towns of Tubas and Tamun, south-east of Jenin.
An AFP journalist said the army was blocking the exits of the nearby Faraa refugee camp and entering homes, evicting residents. Drones were also visible in the sky.
The army said early on Feb 2 that a “tactical group” had begun operations around Tamun and had uncovered weapons.
It added it was “extending the counterterrorism operation... to five villages”.
It also distributed leaflets in Arabic saying the operation was meant to “eradicate armed criminals, the lackeys of Iran”.
The Israeli government accuses Iran, which backs armed groups across the Middle East including Hamas in Gaza, of attempting to send weapons and money to militants in the West Bank.
The leaflets warned residents not to approach Israeli forces.
Surge of violence
On Feb 1, Israel conducted two air strikes in Jenin, and “struck and eliminated a terrorist cell on its way to carry out an imminent terrorist attack” in Qabatiya, the military said, adding that “two terrorists” were killed.
“After the strike, secondary explosions due to explosives that were inside the vehicle were identified,” the military said on Feb 2.
Islamic Jihad’s military wing confirmed in a statement on Feb 2 that two of its fighters were among those killed.
The military said one of those killed had been released from Israeli detention in 2023 as part of the first truce in the Gaza war.
The Palestinian Health Ministry said on the evening of Feb 1 that Israeli strikes in the Jenin area had killed five people, including a 16-year-old.
When asked about that strike, the military told AFP it had “struck armed terrorists”.
Violence has surged across the West Bank since the Gaza war broke out in October 2023.
Israeli troops or settlers have killed at least 883 Palestinians in the West Bank since the start of the war, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.
At least 30 Israelis have been killed in Palestinian attacks or during Israeli military raids in the territory over the same period, according to Israeli official figures. AFP
