Israel has carried out airstrikes in the West Bank city of Jenin – with several thousand soldiers reportedly involved in one of the biggest operations there in nearly 20 years.
The airstrikes started at 1.14am on Monday using armed drones and destroyed a target in the centre of Jenin’s refugee camp, close to UN-funded schools.
Israel described it as a Joint Operations Centre “used as an advanced observation and reconnaissance centre, a place where armed terrorists would gather before and after terrorist activities, a site for armament of weapons and explosives, and as a hub for co-ordination and communication among the terrorists”.
It said “precise” strikes with small payloads were used.
Three minutes after the initial airstrikes, ground troops entered and started moving through buildings focusing on infrastructure, seizing weapons and targeting command and control.
Further strikes followed and at least eight Palestinians have been killed and more than 50 wounded – 10 of them critically, said the Palestinian health ministry.
In a separate incident, a 21-year-old Palestinian was killed by Israeli fire near Ramallah, the ministry said.
There have been no reports so far of Israeli casualties.
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Drones were used in the Israeli offensive
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More than 50 people were wounded. Pic: AP
“We are acting against specific targets,” said the international spokesman for the Israel Defence Forces (IDF), Lt Col Richard Hecht.
“We’re not here to hold ground. The focus is breaking the perceived safe-haven for terrorists. We will do it for as long as needed.”
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is deeply concerned about the situation, according to a spokesperson, and urges that “all military operations must be conducted with full respect for international humanitarian law”.
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Smoke rises from buildings in Jenin
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An Israeli security forces vehicle drives along a road during the operation
Jenin residents were reportedly sent texts urging them to stay indoors and some militant group members were told to lay down arms and surrender.
People in the refugee camp – home to about 14,000 people – said power was down in some areas and bulldozers had damaged buildings as they cleared the way for troops.
The Palestinian Authority and Jordan were informed of the operation, and messages sent through back channels to Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad in the Gaza Strip warned them not to get involved.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has suspended contact and security coordination with Israel in response.
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Tyres were set on fire in one area
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An Israeli soldier stands guard at Salem checkpoint, the entrance from Israel to Jenin
A statement from the Joint Chamber of Palestinian Resistance urged people to “activate the confrontation with the occupation, support Jenin, and teach the enemy harsh lessons in response to its aggression”.
The Jenin Brigades, a unit made up of militant groups, said it was battling Israeli forces and had shot down one drone.
The UN said humanitarian aid was being sent to the area.
A US State Department spokesperson said it was closely tracking the situation and it was imperative all possible steps are taken to prevent civilian casualties.
There has been speculation for weeks that the IDF might carry out a more sustained operation in the West Bank after one of the deadliest years for decades.
Members of the Netanyahu government had urged the prime minister to approve a wide-scale operation across the Occupied Territories, but it seems he has opted for a more limited operation in Jenin, which has been the centre of terrorist activity in recent months.
The use of airstrikes in the West Bank is extremely rare – two weeks ago an Apache helicopter fired into Jenin during violence between Israeli soldiers and Palestinian militants.
It was the first time airstrikes had been used since the Second Intifada, almost 20 years previously.
