Israeli raid on Nablus ends with IOF withdrawal under Resistance fire

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Al Mayadeen English
27 Sep 2024 14:57
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The Palestinian Resistance defends West Bank cities, particularly Nablus, as Israeli occupation forces launched yet another nightly raid.

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Palestinian freedom fighters march during a funeral for martyred Palestinians draped in the Hamas flag and killed in an Israeli airstrike in the occupied West Bank, on August 18, 2024. (AP)

Israeli occupation forces were forced to withdraw from Balata Refugee Camp, east of Nablus in the occupied West Bank on Friday after fierce confrontations with Palestinian resistance fighters.

Field sources in the West Bank confirmed that Resistance fighters targeted the invading occupation forces in Balata Camp with highly explosive IEDs and engaged in intense confrontations with the forces.

The al-Quds Brigades - Nablus Battalion announced that its fighters in Balata fought fierce battles with the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) in several combat zones.

The Brigades' fighters targeted the occupation’s military reinforcements on al-Quds Street with bursts of gunfire and attacked infantry and military vehicles with direct fire, achieving confirmed hits.

Similarly, the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades – Nablus announced that its fighters confronted the IOF in Balata Camp, engaging in fierce confrontations using machine guns and explosive devices.

Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades fighters also detonated several highly explosive Zoufi IEDs on the invading enemy’s vehicles and troops in Balata Camp, achieving direct hits.

It is worth noting that the occupied West Bank has been witnessing daily confrontations, which have escalated since the beginning of the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip. Towns and cities face daily raids, accompanied by wide-scale detention campaigns.

Israeli raids cause massive damage to roads, and businesses in West Bank

The New York Times reported on Thursday that Israeli military bulldozers have caused extensive damage to roads, sewage systems, and businesses in the occupied West Bank, in what residents describe as an unprecedented level of devastation.

The destruction primarily affected the cities of Tulkarm and Jenin, where two weeks of intense raids began in late August.

According to the report, the military vehicles "tore up mile after mile of streets and alleys, leaving sewage to seep into the deep ruts left behind." Videos captured by locals showed bulldozers leveling infrastructure, shops, and businesses, while Israeli soldiers reportedly blocked emergency responders from assisting those in need of medical care.

"We watched their bulldozers destroy streets, wipe out businesses, pharmacies, and schools. They even tore down the town's soccer field and uprooted a tree in the middle of a road," said Kamal Abu al-Rub, governor of Jenin. "What was the purpose of this destruction?"

Adding to the situation is the intensification of airstrikes targeting homes in the West Bank, a tactic previously associated with Gaza. This shift has escalated fears among Palestinians.

"They are creating conditions, both materially and psychologically, that make people feel Gaza is coming to the West Bank," said Shawan Jabarin, director of the West Bank-based human rights organization al-Haq. "There is a growing fear among Palestinians that this is part of a plan to kill and forcibly remove us."

Jenin Mayor Nidal Obeidi reported that approximately 70% of the city’s roads were either heavily damaged or completely destroyed during the raids.

In addition to the destruction, several areas experienced outages in internet, electricity, and phone services, while water and sewage systems were cut off, leaving nearly 80% of Jenin’s population without access to running water.

Businesses in both Jenin and Tulkarm have also suffered significant losses. Rami Kmail, a local shop owner, reported that his store had been damaged in 10 separate Israeli raids since October 7, 2023, with repair costs reaching up to $20,000 after each incident.