Israel has deployed hundreds of soldiers and air force in what is being described as the biggest attack since 2002, resulting in the deaths of at least nine people in the occupied West Bank. Palestinian health officials and media reported that four people were killed in an Israeli attack on the Far’a refugee camp in Tubas, with the Red Crescent Society facing difficulties reaching the injured due to Israeli forces blocking access. Two people were also killed in Jenin, while three others died in a drone strike in the village of Seir.
Reports state that the military operation involved hundreds of soldiers and had been planned for weeks, with analysts suggesting it is part of a longer-term Israeli strategy to “ethnically cleanse” the Palestinian territory. Palestinian armed groups, including the al-Quds Brigades and the Qassam Brigades, claimed responsibility for targeting Israeli forces in Nur Shams and Jenin refugee camps.
Middle East political analyst Omar Baddar highlighted that Israel has been intending to annex and ethnically cleanse parts of the West Bank for a long time, taking advantage of the distraction caused by the Gaza conflict. Over 650 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank in recent months. The situation remains volatile, with clashes ongoing between Palestinian armed groups and Israeli forces.
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