Israeli Forces Withdraw from Jenin, Leaving Behind Destruction – Reuters

By Ali Sawafta

JENIN – Israeli forces withdrew from the Palestinian city of Jenin on Friday, leaving behind extensive damage to buildings and infrastructure following one of the largest military operations in the occupied West Bank in recent months.

Road machinery began clearing the debris and rubble left by the nine-day operation, which saw hundreds of troops and police, supported by helicopters and drones, conducting extensive operations throughout the city, the nearby refugee camp, and surrounding villages.

During the operation, thousands of residents were forced from their homes amid ongoing gun battles with Palestinian fighters from various factions, including Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and Fatah. "When they entered, they used bulldozers and began destroying everything. They left nothing," recounted Jenin resident Samaher Abu Nassa.

Basic utilities such as water and electricity remain disrupted, and approximately 20 kilometers of roads were excavated by Israeli bulldozers. The military claimed this was necessary to neutralize roadside bombs, but the action has resulted in significant damage to the city center.

According to military statements, 30 explosives hidden under the roads were successfully dismantled. Meanwhile, the Palestinian foreign ministry condemned the military’s approach, alleging that the tactics used in Gaza are now being applied in the West Bank.

Jenin, located in northern West Bank, has historically been a stronghold for Palestinian armed factions. The Israeli military stated that the operation, which also involved the city of Tulkarm, aimed to counter Iranian-backed militant groups suspected of planning attacks against Israeli civilians.

During the operation, Israeli forces reported the deaths of 14 militants, including a local Hamas commander. Additionally, 30 suspects were arrested, weapons were seized, and infrastructure linked to militant activities, such as an underground weapons depot beneath a mosque and an explosives workshop, was dismantled.

On Friday, many gathered for funeral processions for those killed during the confrontations, with large numbers of armed individuals firing into the air. The deceased were often wrapped in Palestinian flags or the colors of Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and Fatah. In total, 21 people were reported killed in Jenin, with many claimed as members of armed factions, while some were uninvolved civilians, including a 16-year-old girl hit by a sniper while inside her home.

Despite the Israeli military’s primary focus on Gaza over the past year, violence in the West Bank has surged with ongoing clashes between military forces and Palestinian fighters. Attacks by Jewish settlers on Palestinian villages, as well as retaliatory actions by Palestinians against Israelis, have also increased.

In total, over 680 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, as per figures from the Palestinian health ministry. While many of these individuals were armed fighters, casualties also included youths participating in protests and civilians uninvolved in the conflict.

In the same timeframe, dozens of Israeli civilians have fallen victim to attacks carried out by Palestinians or in rocket attacks from Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.