ISRAELI MILITARY ESCALATES WEST BANK RAIDS, AT LEAST 10 PALESTINIANS KILLED

The Israeli military operations in the occupied West Bank escalated sharply on Wednesday, as hundreds of Israeli soldiers, backed by drones and armored vehicles, launched raids targeting Palestinian militants in the area. According to an official statement from the Palestinian Health Ministry, at least 10 Palestinians were killed in these raids.

The operation, focused in the cities of Jenin and Tulkarm, has resulted in the deaths of nine militants, according to the Israeli military. Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani, an Israeli military spokesperson, stated that the operation aimed to eliminate militant groups that have made Jenin and Tulkarm their strongholds.

During the confrontation, a Palestinian armed group in Jenin claimed to have launched counterattacks against Israeli forces in two villages near the city. Local residents described the tense atmosphere, with sporadic gunfire heard throughout the day.

This escalation follows months of Israeli raids in the West Bank, which have intensified since the major Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7. According to data from the United Nations, more than 600 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank since that attack, in clashes involving both the Israeli military and extremist Jewish settlers. Additionally, thousands of Palestinians have been arrested on suspicion of involvement in armed groups.

Amid this rising tension, Israel continues to be engaged in conflict with Hamas in Gaza and cross-border skirmishes with Hezbollah in Lebanon. Officials from Israel, the United States, and Iran have indicated that Iran is operating a weapons smuggling route across the Middle East to arm Palestinian groups in the Israeli-occupied territory. The primary objective of this covert operation is to incite unrest in the region by supplying militant groups with as many weapons as possible.

Israeli ground forces have also reportedly conducted operations in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, where Israeli airstrikes over the past 24 hours have killed 58 Palestinians, according to local health authorities. In another development, the Israeli military successfully recovered the body of a soldier who was kidnapped on October 7, though it remains unclear whether the soldier was alive or dead when taken to Gaza.

In Jenin, the Israeli military operation has caused fear among civilians. The sound of gunfire and explosions echoed throughout the city, with many residents taking refuge in their homes. Kamal Abu al-Rub, the Governor of Jenin, stated that this incursion was fiercer than usual, with Israeli forces imposing curfews and surrounding hospitals as well as the entrances and exits of the city.

This Israeli military raid is the largest since a July 2023 operation that involved 1,000 Israeli soldiers and resulted in the deaths of 12 Palestinians. That operation lasted for 48 hours and caused significant damage in Jenin. Now, with thousands of civilians caught in the crossfire, the situation in Jenin is worsening.

Local residents like Salam Azaizeh, who has been trapped in a neighbor's house for the past day, described the city’s atmosphere as extremely tense. "No one can go outside. We’re hearing frightening sounds," she said.

The Israeli military has intensified its raids in the West Bank since early October, with operations often concluding within hours after capturing suspected militants. However, this time, Israeli forces remained in the area as of Wednesday afternoon, having set up roadblocks at strategic points in Jenin.

Colonel Shoshani stated that this operation is still in its early stages, and it is unclear how much longer Israeli forces will remain in the West Bank. Meanwhile, Palestinians continue to live in uncertainty and fear, waiting to see what will happen next in this increasingly heated conflict.