JENIN: Israeli forces were operating Tuesday in the northern West Bank, nearly a week into large-scale military raids in the occupied territory that the territory’s health ministry said killed at least 27 Palestinians.
On Tuesday, an Israeli airstrike in Tulkarem, part of the northern West Bank, targeted Palestinians. The strike resulted in the death of a 15-year-old Palestinian and injured several others, including the teenager’s father.
The Palestinian health ministry stated that since the start of the large-scale military raids on Wednesday, at least 30 Palestinians have been killed and around 130 have been wounded across the West Bank. The ministry’s toll includes three deaths in the southern Hebron area, which were not directly related to the ongoing operations in the north.
In Jenin, the epicenter of the recent Israeli offensive, at least 18 Palestinians have been killed since the start of the raids. The city was reported to be largely deserted on Tuesday, with shops closed and streets largely empty except for Israeli armored vehicles, army bulldozers, and emergency services.
Israeli forces have been using bulldozers to overturn paved streets in Jenin and surrounding areas. The Israeli military contends that this destruction is necessary to neutralize explosive devices. The Jenin city council reported that approximately 70 percent of the city’s roads and streets have been damaged or destroyed since the raids began.
The Jenin refugee camp has also seen significant infrastructure damage. This region has long been a focal point of resistance against Israeli occupation, which has persisted since 1967.
In Tulkarem, Israeli military actions have similarly resulted in widespread damage. An Israeli airstrike late Monday night targeted a building, resulting in multiple casualties and injuries. Local sources reported that the strike killed a 15-year-old boy and injured several others, including a paramedic from the Palestinian Red Crescent.
The situation in Tulkarem has also seen confrontations, with a local man defiantly standing in front of advancing Israeli bulldozers while holding a Palestinian flag. The destruction of roads and infrastructure has compounded the humanitarian impact on local communities.
Further south, Israeli forces conducted an operation at Birzeit University near Ramallah early Tuesday morning, seizing property from the student council. The raid has added to the tension in an area that has already witnessed substantial violence.
According to United Nations figures from last week, at least 637 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank since October.
