At least 10 Palestinians were killed and nearly 100 wounded in one of the biggest West Bank operations carried out by Israel in 20 years. The military operation that began on July 3 (Monday) in the Jenin refugee camp in the occupied West Bank resulted in the displacement of thousands of Palestinians, according to local officials.
The military operation marks the largest Israeli military presence in the area in two decades.
“There are about 3,000 people who have left the camp so far,” the Jenin deputy governor, Kamal Abu al-Roub, told the reporters on Tuesday as the Palestinian Red Crescent rescue service gave the same figure of the people seeking refuge in schools and shelters within Jenin city while expecting it to continue as the operation persists.
Thousands of Palestinians have fled their homes following a deadly military operation by Israel targeting the occupied city of Jenin in what is Israel's biggest military operation in the occupied West Bank in 20 years.
— TRT World (@trtworld) July 4, 2023
At least ten people had been killed and more than 100 were… pic.twitter.com/YukQ3AM9vM
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) highlighted the urgent need for food, drinking water, and milk powder among camp residents.
The “Bayit Vegan” Operation
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) launched the operation, targeting what it said was a “joint operational command center” for the Jenin Brigade. Drone strikes and the deployment of ground troops, estimated to be between 1,000 and 2,000 soldiers, accompanied by armored bulldozers and snipers on rooftops, led to casualties. The Palestinian health ministry reported 10 deaths, with 100 injuries, including 20 in critical condition.
The ongoing military operation, called ‘Bayit Vegan’ (literally Home and Garden), is a biblical term associated with Jenin. This name has been used by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as well. However, the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit has stated that the operation does not have an official name.
#Jenin this morning -filmed by the BBC’s Jimmy Michael pic.twitter.com/McPyEQG6TO
— Tom Bateman (@tombateman) July 4, 2023
IDF spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari called it a “brigade-level raid.”
Jenin Refugee Camp
Jenin camp, established in the 1950s to house refugees who fled their homes during the creation of the Israeli state in 1948, remains a poverty-stricken area known for armed resistance activities. The camp is believed to house around 18,000 Palestinians, although the exact figure is disputed, ranging from 12,000 to 14,000.
The Palestinian Authority has minimal influence in the camp, leaving security largely in the hands of several armed groups, including Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and Fatah, which contributes to the tense situation. The Jenin Brigades, consisting of armed individuals from various groups, has been associated with several attacks against Israelis, heightening tensions in the region.
Condemnations pour in
Palestinians and three Arab countries including Jordan, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates have condemned the Israeli incursion. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation, representing 57 nations, also criticized the operation.
The UK’s Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, called on Israel to exercise restraint. Sunak urged Israel to “demonstrate restraint in its operation and for all parties to avoid further escalation in both the West Bank and Gaza”.
The UN Middle East envoy, Tor Wennesland, expressed concern over the dangerous escalation in the West Bank, as the UN spokesperson Farhan Haq said, “Attacks on heavily populated areas are violations of international humanitarian law.”
The White House, however, supported Israel’s right to security as a spokesperson said, “While we support Israel’s right to self-defense, the protection of civilians must be prioritized.”
Israeli forces are now blocking ambulances from reaching the dozens of wounded Palestinians after at least eight people were killed in Jenin.
— Rashida Tlaib (@RashidaTlaib) July 3, 2023
Congress must stop funding this violent Israeli apartheid regime. https://t.co/uPEEhWDDrG
Response of Palestinian Leadership
In response to the situation, the Palestinian leadership in the West Bank held an emergency meeting, deciding to halt limited contacts with Israel, freeze security coordination, increase UN and international efforts against Israel, and minimize contacts with the United States.
Israel defends the Operation
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the operation, stating that Jenin had become a “safe haven for terrorism.” He assured minimal harm to civilians while ending this perceived threat.
Israel’s military spokesperson, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, justified the operation by citing approximately 50 attacks originating from Jenin in the past year. The incursion is expected to last between one and three days, with Israel not intending to maintain control over Jenin or other areas under the Palestinian Authority’s jurisdiction.
Annual death stats of West Bank
The violence in the West Bank this year has claimed the lives of 133 Palestinians and 24 Israelis. Additionally, a separate five-day Israeli operation in Gaza resulted in the deaths of 34 Palestinians and one Israeli.