IOF withdraw after 10 days of systematic aggression in West Bank

By Al Mayadeen English
6 Sep 2024 12:22
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The occupation forces have withdrawn from the city of Jenin and its camp after the longest period of ongoing confrontations there in over two decades.

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A man walks on a damaged road following an Israeli army raid in Jenin, West Bank, on September 4, 2024. (AP)

In the early hours of Friday, the Israeli occupation army withdrew from the city of Jenin and its camp, announcing an end to the longest period of ongoing battles in the area since "Operation Defensive Shield" in 2002, which involved around 30,000 occupation soldiers.

Despite the announcement of the withdrawal by Israeli Army Radio, it was confirmed that the aggression was not over. There are expectations that the occupation forces may return to Jenin and other areas after some time.

Additionally, the Wafa agency reported increasing fears that the occupation forces could return to launch further assaults on the city and its camp after setting up military checkpoints around the area, as has happened in previous instances.

Following the Israeli withdrawal, the Jenin Municipality has begun taking steps to implement reconstruction efforts, as announced by its mayor. This comes amid significant destruction, with approximately 70% of the city's streets affected during the previous 10 days of intense and continuous aggression.

The aggression resulted in the martyrdom of 22 Palestinians in Jenin alone, including elderly people and children. The casualties were distributed as follows: 14 in the camp, two in the city, three from Kafr Dan west of Jenin, two in al-Yamoun west of Jenin, and one in al-Sayla al-Harithiya west of Jenin.

As the war rages in #Gaza, violence and destruction in the #WestBank increase by the hour.

The past week was the deadliest for Palestinian civilians in the West Bank since November last year. Many people were killed, including 7 children.

This is unacceptable. It must stop now. pic.twitter.com/VejfuRc8oA
— UNRWA (@UNRWA) September 5, 2024

Additionally, the occupation forces withdrew from Tulkarm and its camp following a renewed aggression that lasted for four days. In response to the recent escalation of Israeli aggression in the West Bank, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) confirmed that "last week was the deadliest for Palestinians in the West Bank since last November."

The agency added, in a post on its account on X, "While the war on the Gaza Strip continues, the violence and destruction in the West Bank are increasing by the hour. This is unacceptable and must stop now."

Ben-Gvir: To put the West Bank among the war targets

Israeli Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has called for the West Bank to be added to the list of war targets.

As Ben-Gvir escalates his rhetoric against the West Bank, settlers are also ramping up their attacks on Palestinians. In one incident, they burned a vehicle and vandalized property with racist slogans during an assault on the village of Abu Falah, north of Ramallah.

The Resistance in the West Bank has continued to confront the occupation forces in recent hours. On Thursday night and into Friday, the al-Qassam Brigades engaged in confrontations with Israeli occupation forces advancing toward the Maghdousha and Jammasin areas in the Balata camp, east of Nablus.

The Balata Battalion of the al-Quds Brigades reported intense confrontations within the camp and affirmed its commitment to the Resistance. They warned the occupation forces that they had "a great deal more in store."

As for the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, they ambushed an Israeli infantry force in the Balata camp, detonated a highly explosive device, and then confronted the soldiers with machine guns, achieving confirmed casualties among them.