2024 Israeli military operation in the northern West Bank

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2024 Israeli military operation in the northern West Bank
Part of Israeli incursions in the West Bank during the Israel–Hamas war
We-map.png
West Bank
Location
Result Ongoing
Belligerents
Flag of Israel.svg  Israel Flag of Palestine.svg West Bank militias
Casualties and losses
Unknown At least 18 killed. [1]
At least 26 wounded(including a disabled man) [2] [3] [4]

On 28 August 2024, Israel launched the largest military operation into the northern West Bank in more than 20 years since Operation Defensive Shield in 2002, [5] in a significant escalation of the continual Israeli incursions into the region against Palestinian militias during the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.

Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesman Avichay Adraee announced the self-declared counter-terror operation in a joint statement with the Shin Bet. [6] [7] Israeli foreign minister Israel Katz stated that the operation was a "full-fledged war" focused on stamping out "terrorist infrastructures", accusing Iran of trying to establish an "eastern terrorist front" against Israeli in the West Bank by funding and arming local militants. [5] [8]

The military operation is focusing on the cities of Tulkarm and Jenin, with hundreds of troops from the IDF involved, [6] [9] as well as bulldozers and air support. [10] Operations were also reported in al-Fara'a refugee camp, near Tubas. Entry points into Tulkarm and Jenin were blocked off by the IDF, which also encircled two hospitals in Tulkarm. [10]

In response, Hamas has called for Palestinians in the West Bank to rise up and blamed the escalation on United States support for Israel. It also called on the Palestinian Authority's security forces to join the fighting against Israel. The Palestinian Authority condemned the operation and called on the United States to intervene. [11]

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References

  1. Quillen, Zaheena Rasheed,Stephen (2024-08-29). "Death toll from West Bank raids rises to 18". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-08-29.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. Gadzo, Virginia Pietromarchi,Stephen Quillen,Mersiha (2024-08-28). "10 bodies, 22 injured patients transported, PRCS says". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-08-28.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. Osgood, Brian (2024-08-28). "Three wounded in Israeli raid on Far'a refugee camp". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-08-29.
  4. Osgood, Brian (2024-08-29). "Disabled Palestinian man killed by Israeli sniper in West Bank raid". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-08-29.
  5. 1 2 "Israel launches largest raids in occupied West Bank in at least 20 years". NBC News. 2024-08-28. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  6. 1 2 Presse, AFP-Agence France. "Israeli Army Says Launches Operation In West Bank". www.barrons.com. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  7. "Israeli army says launches operation in West Bank". Arab News. 2024-08-28. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  8. Quillen, Zaheena Rasheed,Stephen (2024-08-29). "Israel claims killing top Palestinian fighter in West Bank firefight". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-08-29. The Israeli military said its forces killed the commander of the Tulkarem Battalion, Mohamed Jaber, also known as Abu Shuja'a, and four other Palestinian fighters in a firefight in the Nur Shams refugee camp in the occupied West Bank.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  9. "At least 7 Palestinians killed in major Israeli raids on occupied West Bank". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  10. 1 2 Hudson, John; Morris, Loveday; Vinall, Frances; Parker, Claire; Balousha, Hazem (2024-08-28). "Israel launches major operation in West Bank; Palestinian officials say 9 killed". Washington Post. ISSN   0190-8286 . Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  11. "Israeli forces launch a big operation in the West Bank and kill at least 10 militants". AP News. 2024-08-28. Retrieved 2024-08-28.