 |
| Palestinians flee a refugee camp in Jenin, West Bank, as Israeli forces launch an offensive | Photo: AFP |
Israeli forces have intensified a large-scale military operation in Jenin, a Palestinian town in the West Bank, forcing hundreds of residents to flee their homes. The operation, which began Tuesday, has already resulted in the deaths of 12 Palestinians, according to officials.
In Gaza, the Health Ministry reported on Thursday that 120 additional bodies were recovered from rubble, bringing the total death toll from Israeli actions in Gaza over the past 15 months to 47,283.
Dubbed "Operation Iron Wall," the campaign was launched two days after a ceasefire in Gaza. Israeli forces, supported by airstrikes, drones, helicopters, and bulldozers, entered the Jenin refugee camp while sealing off major entrances to cities across the West Bank.
Jenin Governor Kamal Abu al-Rab revealed that Israeli troops used drones and loudspeakers mounted on armored vehicles to order residents to evacuate. In response, hundreds of Palestinians began leaving the refugee camp.
Salim Saadi, a resident of Jenin, said Israeli soldiers positioned themselves near his home and ordered residents to evacuate by Wednesday evening. "Israeli soldiers have taken up positions in front of my house. They can enter the house at any moment," he said.
According to the Palestinian news agency Wafa, several homes in the Jenin refugee camp and near Al-Asir Mosque were set ablaze by Israeli forces.
Meanwhile, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to escalate. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that clearing landmines and unexploded bombs left behind after 15 months of conflict could take up to a decade. The task will require an estimated $500 million to remove explosives buried under 42 million tons of rubble.
In a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reaffirmed the United States' unwavering support for Israel. The call occurred just days after President Donald Trump's inauguration.
As the situation worsens, the international community remains divided over the ongoing Israeli offensive, with humanitarian organizations emphasizing the urgent need for intervention to protect Palestinian civilians.