The Israeli army continued its military offensive in the occupied West Bank, which began Tuesday evening Monday. At least nine people have been killed in airstrikes and fighting on the ground, the Palestinian health ministry said. There was conflicting information about a supposedly ordered evacuation of a refugee camp housing some 17,000 people.
Images online showed that many people poured out of their homes. Palestinian media spoke of an expulsion order. However, this was denied by Israeli security officials. Accordingly, thousands of people have fled the fighting. The densely populated city of Jenin and its refugee camp are considered a stronghold of militant Palestinians. The various groups are mainly funded by Iran, an archenemy of the State of Israel.
“In recent months, Jenin has become a haven for terrorism, from which insidious attacks have been carried out against Israeli men, women and children,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a speech Monday evening. “Israeli soldiers are doing everything they can to prevent the death of civilians, while Israel is doing everything it can to exercise its right of self-defense.” The goal is to eliminate all those “who want to destroy our country”. The military offensive will last as long as it takes “to complete the mission,” Netanyahu told Israeli media.
Tense security situation in Palestinian territories
After a meeting of its leaders on Monday night, the Palestinian Authority reiterated that it would no longer cooperate with Israel on security issues. The autonomy authority had made similar announcements on previous occasions, but they were not actually implemented. Violence has recently increased in the West Bank, occupied since the Six-Day War in 1967. More than two dozen people have been killed in attacks by Palestinians since the beginning of the year. During the same period, more than 140 Palestinians were killed in violent confrontations, Israeli military operations or after their own attacks.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
