Israeli forces initiated drone assaults on Jenin on Monday, the largest operation in the region in 20 years and a significant increase in casualties.
The drone strikes killed at least eight Palestinians and sparked deadly clashes between Israeli forces and the terrorist Jenin Brigades, a group based in the city's densely populated refugee camp, per Reuters.
According to Palestinian ambulance driver Khaled Alahmad, shooting and explosions could be heard throughout the day as Israeli soldiers, and the Jenin Brigades engaged in combat.
The situation in Jenin resembled an actual battle as the camp was the attack's primary target, covering less than half a square kilometer and housing around 14,000 people. At least six drones circled the city and the nearby camp at various times.
Jenin's scenario is representative of the broader West Bank upsurge in violence, which has alarmed both Washington and the Arab world. Despite this, it has yet to open the door to restarting protracted political talks.
In addition to frequent army operations in towns like Jenin, fatal Palestinian assaults against Israelis, and destructive Jewish settler mob activities against Palestinian communities, the last year has seen several other incidents.
The Palestinian health ministry recorded 50 injuries and eight deaths in Jenin. A Ramallah checkpoint shooting killed another person overnight.
An Israeli military raid on the Jenin refugee camp in the West Bank, involving drone strikes and gun battles in the streets, has left at least eight people dead.
— DW News (@dwnews) July 3, 2023
Israel says the camp is a militant stronghold used to launch attacks. pic.twitter.com/DWL8UPBYwc
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Israel Forces Want Camp Destroyed
The Israeli military confirmed that the Jenin Brigades' command center was the objective of the attacks. The Israeli army used accurate drone attacks with tiny payloads to damage infrastructure and prevent the terrorists from using the refugee camp as a base in what they described as a massive counter-terrorism operation.
Israeli armored bulldozers smashed down the camp's roadways during the operation to find hidden IEDs, which disrupted the water and power supplies.
Israel Defense Forces spokesperson Lt. Col. Richard Hecht said the operation will continue until they destroy the alleged camp of the terrorists.
The major attack earned condemnation from Jordan, Egypt, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. The action violated international humanitarian law and Israeli occupation commitments, according to Jordanian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Sinan al-Majali.
UN representative Tor Wennesland appealed for the safety of civilians and urged all sides to de-escalate the situation as he voiced his grave worry about the potential escalation, according to Axios.
Israel Has Sophisticated Military Drones
West Bank and Gaza-based Palestinian factions pledged to help Jenin. Israel's drone strikes on West Bank terrorists entered an intensity not seen since the early 2000s during the second Palestinian revolt, although they were less pervasive than in Gaza, as per The New York Times. Recent violence, particularly in Jenin, has generated worries of retaliation.
Israeli military drones are stealthy and accurate. They use gravity bombs, which fall softly and without smoke and are challenging to foresee or avoid. According to the Royal United Services Institute, the country has emerged as a top Middle Eastern drone operator with considerable capabilities and exports of drone technology.
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