Six Palestinians killed as Israel launches operation in Jenin

At least six Palestinians were killed and 35 wounded by Israeli security forces after they launched a major operation in Jenin in the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian Ministry of Health said.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the Israeli army, police and Shin Bet security service had launched a “large-scale and significant” operation to “defeat terrorism” in Jenin.

Palestinian media said Israeli military vehicles moved into Jenin and its refugee camp on Tuesday morning after several drone strikes.

It comes after a week-long operation by Palestinian security forces against armed groups including Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, which they see as challenging their rule.

A statement from the Israeli prime minister said the operation was “an additional step to achieve the goal we have set for ourselves: strengthening security” in the West Bank.

“We are acting methodically and decisively against the Iranian axis wherever it goes: in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen and (the West Bank) – and we are still active,” he added.

An Israeli military statement said the operation was called “Iron Wall” and that it would last “as long as necessary.”

Jenin Governor Kamal Abu al-Rub told AFP that “what is happening is an invasion of the camp”.

“It arrived quickly, Apache (helicopters) in the sky and Israeli military vehicles everywhere,” he added.

There has been a spike in violence in the West Bank since the deadly Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. and the subsequent war in Gaza.

Hundreds of Palestinians were killed as Israeli forces stepped up raids, saying they were trying to stop deadly Palestinian attacks on Israelis in the West Bank and Israel.

Israel has built about 160 settlements, home to about 700,000 Jews, since it occupied the West Bank in the 1967 Middle East war. The settlements are considered illegal under international law, although Israel disputes this.