Diksia.com - The Israeli forces’ attack on Jenin, in the West Bank, Palestine, on Monday (July 3, 2023), has become the largest military operation since 2002.
This Israeli military operation has claimed the lives of at least eight people, with 100 others wounded.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have carried out 10 drone airstrikes, while hundreds of soldiers have targeted the militants’ “command and control” centers.
In a statement, the IDF stated that they launched this attack as part of their counterterrorism efforts.
According to CNN, five of those killed in the Israeli attack were teenagers.
Responding to the news, IDF Spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari stated that there were only eight terrorists killed in Jenin at present.
He denied that his forces had killed non-combatants during the attack.
Hagari acknowledged that civilians, including those injured, were among the casualties but insisted that the operation was solely aimed at targeting “terrorists.”
“This is not an invasion of Jenin; this is not against the Palestinian Authority.”
“It is not against innocent and unarmed Palestinians. It is against the terrorists in this camp,” Hagari said.
The Israeli military operation has sparked immediate condemnation.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas referred to Israel’s large-scale military operation as a new war crime.
“Security and stability will not be achieved in the region until the Palestinian people experience it.”
“What the Israeli occupation government is doing in the city of Jenin and its camp is a new war crime against our defenseless people,” stated Mahmoud Abbas.
Egypt also condemned Israel’s assault, labeling it an act of aggression.
Thousands Flee
As a result of this Israeli military operation, thousands of people in Jenin City fled on Monday night.
The residents sought to avoid the fighting as Israeli forces continued to advance.
According to The Times of Israel, the Palestinian Red Crescent emergency services group stated that at least 3,000 people had been evacuated from the city’s quarter.
Footage released by Palestinian media showed crowds walking out of Jenin, with some passing through Israeli military vehicles.
Palestinian media reports also mentioned Israeli military sending reinforcements to Jenin.
In online-shared footage, a large convoy of military vehicles, including bulldozers, was seen entering the area on Monday night.
Israeli officials denied ordering the evacuation after Palestinian media claimed that the IDF had instructed residents to leave the area.
IDF Arabic Spokesperson Avichay Adraee stated that the evacuation reports were baseless.
Security officials told the news site Ynet that the Israel Defense Forces did not issue any evacuation orders.
Human Rights Groups Call for Sanctions
Palestinian human rights group Al-Haq stated that this is the “right time” for Israel to face sanctions and an arms embargo.
The group believes that Israeli authorities issued a warning that gave residents only two hours to evacuate the Jenin camp.
As reported by Al Jazeera, Al-Haq believes that the evacuation order could be the beginning of a larger attack on the camp.
“This disturbing sign indicates that the IOF is preparing for a massive assault on the #JeninRefugeeCamp,” Al-Haq wrote on Twitter.
“With fully armored military vehicles, including D9 bulldozers, it is anticipated that there will be an increase in the number of Palestinian casualties and the destruction of Palestinian homes and infrastructure,” the statement continued.
Earlier, the international human rights organization Human Rights Watch also stated that the Israeli forces have a “track record of unlawfully launching airstrikes that kill civilians and constitute war crimes.”
They called on the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate the matter.
