Jenin's Dark Day: Death Toll Soars as Israel's Largest Military Operation Unfolds

05-07-2023

Talita Dielemans

Middle East and Human Rights Researcher 

Global Human Rights Defence

The largest military operation by Israeli forces in over two decades took place in the occupied West Bank city of Jenin on Monday the 3rd of July, 2023. The operation resulted in the death of at least 10 individuals and injuries to around 100 others. [1] Tragically, among the deceased were five teenagers. [2] The Israel Defense Forces (“the IDF”) carried out approximately 10 drone airstrikes and deployed hundreds of soldiers to target a militant “command and control” centre, along with weapon and explosive manufacturing sites. [3] Israel launched a series of drone strikes and sent up to 2,000 ground troops, backed by armoured bulldozers and snipers on rooftops, into the city and its refugee camp. [4] Monday's incident adds to the grim toll of Palestinians who have lost their lives in the West Bank this year, reaching a total of 133 fatalities. [5] In the same period, 24 Israelis have also tragically lost their lives, and a five-day Israeli operation in the blockaded Gaza Strip resulted in the deaths of 34 Palestinians and one Israeli. [6]

The violence did not stop on Monday, on Tuesday the violence spread to Tel Aviv, where a Palestinian attacker in a car ran down and then stabbed people at a bus stop, injuring nine, before he was shot dead, he was later identified as a member of the militant group in control of the Gaza Strip. [7] Despite the overall situation, the conflict on the ground continues without any signs of diminishing. Israeli army vehicles were seen patrolling the town, venturing even further than the previous day. [8] Additionally, bullets and teargas canisters were fired towards a hospital, which is approximately 200 metres away from the main entrance of the Jenin refugee camp. [9] 

Israel's aggressive actions against Palestinians in Jenin involve the destruction of vital infrastructure, including water and electricity networks, with a particular impact on the refugee camp's facilities. [10] As the death toll soars, Israel's air raids and ground attacks have faced condemnation from Iran, Egypt, Jordan, and the Arab League, as well as concern from the United Nations, advocating for peace. [11] 

Sources and further reading:

[1] CNN World  ‘Israeli forces launch biggest military operation in West Bank’s Jenin since 2002’ (4 July 2023) <https://edition.cnn.com/2023/07/02/middleeast/israel-jenin-camp-idf-raid-west-bank-intl-hnk/index.html> accessed 4 July 2023.

[2] Ibid.

[3] Ibid.

[4] The Guardian ‘Thousands of Palestinians flee Jenin refugee camp after major Israeli raid’ (4 July 2023) <https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jul/04/jenin-refugee-camp-west-bank-israel-military-operation> accessed 4 July 2023.

[5] Ibid.

[6] Ibid.

[7] The Guardian ‘Israeli’s Jenin assault displaces thousands as violence spirals on’(4 July 2023) <https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jul/04/israels-jenin-assault-displaces-thousands-as-violence-spirals-on> accessed 4 July 2023.

[8] Ibid.

[9] Ibid.

[10] Al Jazeera ‘Jenin attack live: UN says ‘alarmed’ at scale of Israeli raid’ (4 July 2023) <https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2023/7/4/jenin-attack-live-10-killed-as-israeli-raid-enters-second-day> accessed 4 July 2023.

[11] Al Jazeera ‘‘Criminal’: Israel’s Jenin attack sparks condemnation, alarm’ (3 July 2023) <https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/7/3/criminal-israels-jenin-attack-sparks-condemnation-alarm> accessed 3 July 2023.