West Bank rockets could be fired at 'Israel' in a year: Israeli media

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Israeli media
28 Jun 2024 13:50

Israeli media, citing senior officials, claim that Palestinian groups in the West Bank could potentially launch rockets into "Israel" within a year if the current rate of smuggling from Jordan continues.

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Jordanian soldiers patrol along the eastern Jordan-Syria border, in al-Washash, Mafraq governorate, Jordan, February 17, 2022. (AP)

Israeli media claimed, citing senior officials that, at the current rate of smuggling from Jordan, Palestinian groups in the West Bank could be capable of launching rockets into "Israel" within a year.

Sources speaking to the Israeli Kan broadcaster alleged that the rockets, expected to be developed by Palestinian groups in the West Bank within a year, would be comparable in quality to the more advanced projectiles fired from Gaza in recent years.

These rockets are significantly more sophisticated than the rudimentary ones launched from Jenin at the Afula and Bat Hefer areas multiple times over the past year, as per the report.

The report also claimed that both Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad are involved in the smuggling operation.

Explosives, funds, and bomb-making expertise are being transferred from Lebanon to the West Bank via Jordan, with guidance from Iran, as per Israeli media claims.

Abu Hamza reveals details behind powerful Jenin ambush

The spokesperson for the Palestinian Islamic Jihad's (PIJ) al-Quds Brigades, Abu Hamza, released a statement via his Telegram channel on Thursday, where he announced the Brigades' responsibility for a major operation in the West Bank city of Jenin.

The Al-Quds Brigades - the Jenin Brigade engaged Israeli occupation forces that had invaded the city for more than eight consecutive hours, Abu Hamza explained.

In the context of the defense against invading forces, the brigade detonated at least six improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and directly confronted occupation forces and military rescue teams that arrived at the scene of the ambushes.

The brigade had detonated two IEDs into two Israeli military vehicles in the Sahel Marj Bin Aamer area in northern Jenin, the operations left one Israeli officer killed and 16 others wounded, according to Israeli authorities.

It is worth noting that the Jenin Brigade and other Resistance factions across the occupied West Bank have confronted near-daily incursions into their cities and towns, coming under heavy attacks by occupation forces.

Despite the fact that several of the brigade's leaders and fighters have been assassinated by the IOF in a short period of time, the al-Quds Brigades' Jenin formation still managed to find a way to deal the Israeli military one of its heaviest casualty toll in the West Bank since October 7, 2023.

In this context, Abu Hamza said, "In light of the simultaneous and escalating action in all arenas and axes of the confrontation," the brigades confirmed its "steadfastness and have moved forward in the jihad, the struggle in defense of our legitimate right to achieve the goals of our oppressed (Palestinian) people and their just Resistance."

He vowed that Resistance fighters would continue to fight the Israeli occupation until it is ended and dealt a defeat in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.