Israeli raid in Jenin sparks intense clashes
Drones fly on the day of an Israeli raid in Jenin in the occupied West Bank on January 22, 2025. [Ammar Awad/Reuters]
A Palestinian official reported heavy shooting and explosions in Jenin on Wednesday as Israeli forces carried out a significant raid in the flashpoint West Bank town.
The military operation, described by Israel as a “counterterrorism” effort, marks a continuation of heightened violence in the region.
Jenin Governor Kamal Abu al-Rub described the situation as dire, citing blocked roads leading to the Jenin refugee camp and the governmental hospital. “The occupation army has bulldozed all the roads… There is shooting and explosions,” Abu al-Rub told AFP.
The operation follows Tuesday’s raid, which Palestinian officials reported had resulted in 10 deaths. Governor Abu al-Rub also stated that Israeli forces detained approximately 20 individuals from nearby villages.
The Israeli military justified the operation as part of its broader “counterterrorism” campaign, claiming to have targeted over 10 militants and dismantled explosives planted by them.
Defense Minister Israel Katz characterized the raid as a decisive action to neutralize militants in Jenin.
Dubbed “Iron Wall,” the operation reflects Israel’s stated intent to curb militant activities in Jenin, which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu linked to Iran’s influence in the region.
The escalation follows the October 7, 2023, outbreak of conflict in Gaza. The Palestinian health ministry reported that at least 848 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank since the Gaza war began, underscoring the broader regional volatility.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed deep concern and called for “maximum restraint” from Israeli forces to avoid further exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.
