Israel
What is going on in the West Bank?
Israel has ramped up IDF operations in Jenin, apparently to counter rising terrorist threats in the territory
January 23, 2025 16:54
Israel has ramped up IDF operations in Jenin, apparently to counter rising terrorist threats in the territory
January 23, 2025 16:54In the wake of the ceasefire in Gaza, Israel has redirected its military efforts to the northern West Bank city of Jenin.
The shift comes as Israel reportedly seeks to counter rising militancy in the area, exacerbated by the growing influence of Hamas and the weakening authority of the Palestinian Authority (PA).
On Tuesday, the IDF launched a major counterterrorism operation in the city, dubbed “Operation Iron Wall.”
The operation commenced with a series of airstrikes on infrastructure believed to be used by militant groups, according to The Times of Israel. Palestinian health officials reported at least 10 people had died and 40 were injured in the strikes.
Footage shared by Palestinian media showed Israeli helicopters flying over the city. According to reports, the IDF stated that “large numbers of troops, including special forces, Shin Bet agents, and Border Police officers, were operating in the city.”
Palestinian media also claimed that as Israeli forces entered Jenin, PA soldiers withdrew from the area.
Jenin has, according to Israeli officials, become a key hub for terror in the West Bank, with groups like Hamas gaining ground amid the erosion of the PA’s authority.
The city's significance as a centre for militancy dates back decades, and it is home to one of the first Palestinian refugee camps established after the 1948 Arab-Israeli war.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasised the operation’s importance, stating: “At the direction of the Security Cabinet, the IDF, Shin Bet, and Israel Police today launched a large and significant military operation to eradicate terror in Jenin—‘Iron Wall.”
The operation came in response to the death of an IDF reservist and the wounding of four others in a roadside bombing in the area on Monday, which Israeli authorities attribute to Palestinian militants.
IDF chief Lt. Gen Herzi Halevi, who announced he will resign in March, commented that troops would be tasked with “preempting and catching terrorists” over the coming days.
He told the Times of Israel: “Along with the intense defense preparations in the Gaza Strip, we must be prepared for significant operations in [the West Bank] in order to preempt and catch the terrorists before they reach our civilians.”
Meanwhile, on Wednesday, two Palestinian gunmen were killed by Israeli forces in Jenin. The pair, identified as Qutaiba al-Shalabi and Mohammed Nazal, were allegedly responsible for the deadly January 6 attack in the village of al-Funduq, which left three Israelis dead.
The Palestinian Authority’s health ministry reports that over 858 Palestinians in the West Bank have been killed since the start of the recent escalation.
The IDF claims that most of these deaths were militants killed in firefights, rioters clashing with troops or individuals involved in carrying out attacks.
Likewise 46 people, including Israeli security personnel, have lost their lives in terror attacks across Israel and the West Bank during the same period. Seven security officers have also been killed in direct confrontations with militants in the West Bank.