Israeli military vehicles move through the streets of Jenin during a raid in the occupied West Bank on January 21, 2025. Reuters
In the wake of a ceasefire in Gaza, the Israeli military has launched a significant operation in the occupied West Bank, resulting in the deaths of at least 10 Palestinians, including a child. This operation comes just two days after the ceasefire, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announcing the start of a “large-scale military operation” aimed at eliminating terrorism in the region, specifically targeting the city of Jenin.
The operation, named "Iron Wall," is being carried out by the Israeli military, police, and Shin Bet security agency. Netanyahu stated that the goal is to eradicate terrorism within Jenin, a city that has seen increasing unrest. Following this announcement, Hamas issued a call for the people of the West Bank to intensify their resistance against Israeli forces.
Israeli warplanes struck Jenin, and Israeli ground forces, including sharpshooters and armored vehicles, surrounded the city’s refugee camp, blocking ambulances from reaching the wounded. Videos from local journalists showed armored vehicles, including bulldozers, entering the city. According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, at least 10 people have been killed, including nine men and one teenage boy, and 40 others were injured. There is uncertainty over whether those killed were civilians or combatants. Local reports suggest that at least two of the deceased appeared to be unarmed civilians, with one man reportedly being shot and later dying in a hospital.
Palestinian Islamic Jihad’s armed wing, Al Quds Brigades, responded by engaging Israeli forces with gunfire. They claimed that this operation was part of Netanyahu’s effort to save his “faltering government coalition” and to undermine the recent positive developments for Palestinians, such as the release of Palestinian prisoners under the Gaza ceasefire agreement.
This new military offensive follows Israel’s deadly campaign in the northern West Bank in August and September, known as “Operation Summer Camps.” Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a far-right nationalist, mentioned that securing the West Bank has now become one of Israel’s key military objectives.
The violence in the West Bank escalated after the ceasefire and hostage release deal. The United Nations Human Rights Office expressed alarm over the growing violence and the actions of Israeli settlers. On Sunday, Israeli forces shot and killed an unarmed 14-year-old Palestinian boy, while settlers rampaged through Palestinian towns, burning homes and vehicles and blocking roads. Despite condemnation from the international community, settler violence continues to rise, often without repercussions.
Israeli human rights group B’Tselem reported that settlers, supported by Israeli military forces, attacked Palestinian communities. Further violence ensued after a protest in Al-Funduq, leading to multiple arrests and injuries. The Israeli military has already killed at least 851 Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since the attack by Hamas in October 2023. This marks 2024 as the third-deadliest year for Israelis in the West Bank, with 34 Israelis killed, including 19 civilians.
In summary, Israel’s new military operation in Jenin and the surrounding areas has resulted in casualties and intensified the ongoing violence in the West Bank. The operation aims to address what Israel terms as terrorism, but it has sparked further backlash and resistance from Palestinian groups, as well as condemnation from human rights organizations and the international community. The unrest in the region continues to grow, with tragic consequences for both Palestinians and Israelis.
