Israeli Forces Kill 15 Palestinians in Intense Raid on Jenin City and Refugee Camp

In a recent raid on Jenin city and refugee camp, Israeli forces have killed 15 Palestinians and injured at least 20 others, according to the Palestinian health ministry. The Israeli military has stated that the operation was a counter-terrorism raid in Jenin, but no further information has been provided. Eyewitnesses on the ground reported intense fighting, with black smoke rising over Jenin and the sounds of explosions and gunfire. The Palestinian health ministry confirmed that the death toll in Jenin has reached eight, with 14 others wounded.

It is important to note that dozens of Palestinians have been killed in recent months by Israeli forces in Jenin, particularly in the refugee camp where armed groups coexist with tens of thousands of residents. The Israeli army frequently conducts raids across the West Bank, which has been occupied by Israel since the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. Since the start of the Israel-Hamas war on October 7, more than 2,000 people have been arrested across the West Bank by Israeli forces, as reported by the Palestinian Prisoners' Club advocacy group.

The Israeli military, however, puts the figure at over 1,000, stating that most of the individuals arrested are affiliated with Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that governs the Gaza Strip. The ongoing conflict has resulted in the deaths of at least 170 Palestinians and three Israelis across the West Bank since October 7, according to officials from both sides.

The Gaza war began with attacks from Gaza-based Hamas militants, claiming the lives of over 1,400 people, predominantly civilians, according to Israeli officials. In response, Israel launched air strikes and a ground invasion of Gaza, resulting in the deaths of more than 10,500 people, mostly civilians, as reported by the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory. The situation remains highly volatile and underscores the ongoing tensions between Israeli forces and Palestinian groups. Both sides must work towards a peaceful resolution to prevent further loss of lives and escalate the conflict into a full-blown crisis.