Israeli forces conducted raids in the West Bank city of Jenin for a second day on Wednesday, resulting in at least 11 Palestinians killed in the fighting. Smoke, explosions, and gunfire were reported in the city’s refugee camp, as soldiers fired at masked youths in the city center. The Palestinian health ministry in Ramallah confirmed the death toll, which included four children, and 25 wounded.
Israel’s army reported that troops engaged with armed men, killing a number of terrorists, including two who threw explosives at the forces. Surgeon Usaeed Jabareen from the government hospital was among those killed, as well as a schoolteacher and a student, according to reports from the official Palestinian news agency and Doctors Without Borders.
The raid was prompted by suspicions of involvement in an attack on an Israeli civilian last year, in which Meir Tamari, 32, was killed. Jenin has been known as a stronghold of Palestinian militant groups, leading to routine raids by Israeli forces. The surge in violence in the West Bank has intensified since the Israel-Hamas war broke out, resulting in numerous casualties on both sides.
The Gaza Strip has also been embroiled in conflict, with Hamas launching attacks on Israel resulting in significant civilian casualties on both sides. The ongoing cycle of violence has raised concerns about the humanitarian situation in the region.