Israeli warplanes unleashed airstrikes and demolition strikes on Sunday into the West Bank’s Jenin refugee camp, razing up to 20 buildings, reported the Palestinian state news agency. The bombings brought thick plumes of smoke rolling into the air as part of a larger assault on local militant groups, targeting their caches of weapons. More than a month into an assault that started January 21, at least 35 militants and over 100 others have been arrested.
The Israeli army says its campaign has killed off many of the local militants and claims to have struck more than 15 times in aerial raids. “To date, forces have eliminated more than 35 terrorists and detained over 100 wanted persons,” the Israeli army said.
Jenin, the center of militant activity long in the offing, remains a refugee camp where Palestinian resistance was concentrated right from the setting up of it in 1948. Shortly after the agreed ceasefire with Hamas in Gaza, Israeli forces that included helicopters and bulldozers began attacking this area. International criticism of this operation is so rampant because infrastructure belonging to civilian has been devastated.
According to Wisam Baker, Jenin Government Hospital’s director, parts of the hospital had been damaged due to explosions but said that not a single casualty had been reported at the facility. Meanwhile, at least 25 Palestinians, from militants to elderly citizens and children, have died since the start of this operation. The Israeli military confirmed 35 killed militant corpses and the arrest of more than 100 individuals during the operation.
Hamas has urged escalating resistance against Israel, especially after the destructions in Jenin. The ongoing war does not seem to alleviate much tension in the region, especially following a warning from many that there might be further escalations.
