Israeli forces tighten restrictions in Jenin amid ongoing raid

Friday 24 January 2025 - 11:02

Israeli forces have intensified their operations in Jenin, blocking four main entrances to the city and its adjacent refugee camp on Friday. The raid, now in its fourth day, has disrupted movement and escalated tensions in the region, according to officials.

Mansour Saadi, the deputy governor of Jenin, confirmed that the Israeli military sealed off the main access points with earth mounds, effectively halting entry and exit. Palestinian sources reported that drones were deployed in the refugee camp, broadcasting announcements and enforcing a curfew from Thursday evening to Friday morning.

On Thursday, Israeli forces issued evacuation warnings to residents of the Jenin refugee camp, prompting thousands of Palestinians to flee as the deadly assault continued. The situation at Jenin’s government hospital has become critical, with medical staff struggling to provide care amid power outages and fuel shortages.

Israeli operations have intensified across the occupied West Bank since January 21, shortly after the January 19 ceasefire in Gaza. The ongoing raids have resulted in at least 12 fatalities, with dozens more wounded or detained as of Thursday.

Palestinians in Jenin and the wider West Bank fear a repeat of the widespread destruction seen in Gaza. Thousands have already been forced to abandon their homes in the Jenin refugee camp. Palestinian fighters have retaliated by targeting Israeli forces with explosive devices in certain areas, including Jenin’s Nazareth Street, though no immediate casualties have been reported.

Armed clashes have also erupted between Palestinian fighters and the Palestinian Authority (PA) security forces in several areas, including Yabad, Tulkarem, Ramallah, Hebron, and Qalqilya. Reports indicate that PA forces have detained and severely beaten several Palestinian fighters.

Analysts suggest that Israel’s shift of focus to the occupied West Bank serves multiple objectives. It deflects attention from past failures while advancing territorial annexation policies. Since the start of the war on Gaza in October 2023, Israeli forces have significantly increased the scale and frequency of their raids in the West Bank, resulting in nearly 900 Palestinian deaths and thousands of injuries.

The United Nations has warned that the escalating military operations in the West Bank risk expanding the conflict and worsening the humanitarian crisis.