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2024 Israeli military operation in the northern West Bank

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2024 Israeli military operation in the northern West Bank
Part of Israeli incursions in the West Bank during the Israel–Hamas war

West Bank
Date28 August 2024 – present
(2 days)
Location
Israeli-occupied West Bank, Palestine
Result Ongoing
Belligerents
 Israel

State of Palestine Palestinian militant groups

Commanders and leaders
Unknown Hamas Wassem Hazem †
Palestinian Islamic Jihad Abu Shujaa †
Units involved

 Israel Defense Forces

Israeli Border Police

 al-Qassam Brigades
 Al-Quds Brigades

 Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades
Casualties and losses
Unknown 19+ Palestinians killed (including 2 children, a disabled person and 12+ militants)[5][6][7]
22+ wounded (including a doctor and two other emergency medical teams)[8][9]

On 28 August 2024, Israel launched a military operation in the northern occupied West Bank.[10][11][12] It is Israel's largest military operation in the West Bank in more than 20 years since its Operation Defensive Shield in 2002,[13] and is a significant escalation of the continual Israeli incursions into the region against Palestinian militants during the ongoing Israel–Hamas war. Israel has called its operation "Summer Camps",[14] while Palestinian militants have labeled their response as the "Terror of the Camps" operation.[15][16]

Israel says that its goal is to stop Palestinian militant activity in the West Bank, whereas Palestinians worry that this could be an expansion of the war that aims to expel them out of their territories that they aim to establish a state on.[17] Israel said the raids were aimed to thwart Palestinian suicide bombings, following a failed attempt in Tel Aviv.[18] Israel's military operation occurs as Israeli settler violence targeting Palestinians infrastructure and civilians in the West Bank has surged.[11] More than 650 Palestinians in the West Bank, including gunmen and civilians were killed since the October 7 attack while 27 Israelis, including both civilians and security forces were killed in Palestinian attacks within Israel and the West Bank.[18][19][20]

The IDF operation, conducted in areas such as Jenin, Tulkarm and Tubas in the northern West Bank, has led to the dismantling of multiple explosive devices, weapons caches, and other terrorist infrastructure.[21][22] Among the discoveries were an explosives lab and an operations room located inside a mosque.[23][24] The operation has resulted in the deaths of several militants, including Abu Shujaa, leader of the Tulkarm Battalion, who was wanted by Israel for his involvement in terrorism,[25] and the arrest of multiple wanted individuals.[23][24]

Timeline

28 August

Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Arabic spokesman Avichay Adraee announced a counterterrorism operation called "Summer Camps" in a joint statement with the Shin Bet.[14][26] Israeli foreign minister Israel Katz stated that the operation was a "full-fledged war" focused on stamping out "terrorist infrastructures", accusing Iran of trying to establish an "eastern terrorist front" against Israel in the West Bank by funding and arming local militants.[13][27] The Israeli operation came about following a failed suicide bombing in Tel Aviv by a Hamas operative, and calls by Hamas for the renewal of suicide attacks.[18][improper synthesis?]

Hundreds of troops from the IDF,[14][28] as well as bulldozers and air support, began operating in Tulkarm and Jenin.[12] Operations were also reported in al-Fara'a refugee camp, near Tubas. Entry points into Tulkarm and Jenin were blocked off by the IDF, which also encircled two hospitals in Tulkarm.[12]

29 August

The IDF killed Muhammad Jabber, known as Abu Shujaa, who led the Palestinian Islamic Jihad's Tulkarm Brigade, based in Nur Shams. He was wanted by Israel for his involvement in terrorist attacks.[25][22][11]

Security forces also discovered and dismantled dozens of explosive devices and confiscated numerous other weapons. Fearing an imminent Israeli military operation in the Balata Camp next to Nablus, some PIJ militants have surrendered their weapons and turned themselves in to Palestinian Authority security forces.[21]

Hamas and PIJ in Tulkarm and Jenin targeted IDF troops operating in these cities with ambushes and explosives.[15]

The IDF withdrew from the al-Fara'a refugee camp, claiming they completed “the objective of foiling terror, exposing terrorist infrastructure and eliminating armed terrorists”.[29]

30 August

Israeli Border Police forces killed Wassem Hazem, the head of Hamas in Jenin.[29][30] The Jenin Brigade reported "fierce clashes" with Israeli soldiers inside Jenin.[31]

There were unconfirmed reports that the IDF withdrew from Tulkarm and its surrounding refugee camps.[29][31]

Responses

UN secretary general António Guterres, called for Israel to end its operations in the West Bank.[18] UN secretary general spokesman said Israel should "exercise maximum restraint and use lethal force only when it is strictly unavoidable to protect life."[18] The Israeli ambassador to the UN, responded by saying that Israel will not wait for suicide bombings, adding that bombs were being smuggled in by Iran.[18] The United States called for Israel to protect civilians in the West Bank during its operations, and recognized Israeli security reasoning for the operation.[18]

In response, Hamas has called for Palestinians in the West Bank to rise up and blamed the escalation on United States support for Israel. It also called on the Palestinian Authority's security forces to join the fighting against Israel. The Palestinian Authority condemned the operation and called on the United States to intervene.[32]

See also

References

  1. ^ Mohammed, Majdi; Lidman, Melanie (29 August 2024). "Israel kills a top militant in its deadliest West Bank raids since the Gaza war began". AP. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
  2. ^ Angel, Maytaal; Sawafta, Ali (29 August 2024). "Israel says it killed Islamic Jihad commander in gunbattle at West Bank mosque". Reuters. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
  3. ^ "Israeli Military Says It Killed More West Bank Militants, Including Islamic Jihad Commander". TIME. 29 August 2024.
  4. ^ "US largely silent on Israel's West Bank assault as ally Jordan gets rattled". Middle East Eye. 28 August 2024.
  5. ^ "Israel says Hamas leader killed as West Bank operation continues". BBC News. 2024-08-30. Retrieved 2024-08-30. At least 19 Palestinians have been killed since the start of the Israeli operation, which is one of the biggest in the West Bank in two decades, according to the Palestinian health ministry. But the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (Unrwa) said children and one person with disabilities were reportedly among the dead.
  6. ^ Uras, Alastair Mccready,Stephen Quillen,Umut. "Five Palestinian children killed in occupied West Bank since Sunday: Advocacy group". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-08-30. Then, on Wednesday, two brothers – Murad, 13, and Mohammad Masoud Mohammad Na'ja, 17 – were killed by Israeli drone fire in the Far'a refugee camp in the north of the West Bank.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ Motamedi, Maziar (2024-08-29). "What's the latest in Israel's massive operation in occupied West Bank?". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-08-29. The Israeli military has claimed that its forces have killed 12 Palestinian fighters.
  8. ^ Gadzo, Virginia Pietromarchi,Stephen Quillen,Mersiha (2024-08-28). "10 bodies, 22 injured patients transported, PRCS says". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-08-28.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  9. ^ Adler, Nils. "Israeli forces shot a doctor in the hand: PRCS". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
  10. ^ Pope, Felix (2024-08-28). "Israel launches largest West Bank raid in decades". The Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved 2024-08-29.
  11. ^ a b c Fox, Kara (2024-08-29). "As the world focuses on Gaza, the West Bank has reached boiling point. Here's what to know". CNN. Retrieved 2024-08-29.
  12. ^ a b c Hudson, John; Morris, Loveday; Vinall, Frances; Parker, Claire; Balousha, Hazem (2024-08-28). "Israel launches major operation in West Bank; Palestinian officials say 9 killed". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  13. ^ a b Hamamdjian, Daniele; Da Silva, Chantal; Arkin, Daniel (2024-08-28). "Israeli operation in occupied West Bank leaves at least 10 dead in largest raid in decades". NBC News. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  14. ^ a b c "Israeli Army Says Launches Operation In West Bank". Barron's. Agence France-Presse. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  15. ^ a b "Palestinian resistance in West Bank announce second phase of "Camp Terror" operation". Roya News. Retrieved 2024-08-29.
  16. ^ "West Bank Resistance launches Operation Terror of the Camps". Al Mayadeen. 28 August 2024.
  17. ^ "Israel launches a big military operation in the West Bank and kills at least 10 Hamas militants". AP News. August 28, 2024.
  18. ^ a b c d e f g Magid, Jacob (29 August 2024). "UN calls for end to IDF's West Bank raid; Israel: We have to thwart suicide bombings". The Times of Israel.
  19. ^ "Israel kills prominent militant as it wages its deadliest West Bank raids since the Gaza war began". AP News. 2024-08-29. Retrieved 2024-08-29. The Palestinian Health Ministry says over 650 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank since the start of the war. Most appear to have been militants killed in gunbattles during Israeli operations like the one this week, but civilian bystanders and rock-throwing protesters have also been killed, and the territory saw a surge of Jewish settler violence.
  20. ^ Borger, Julian; Taha, Sufian (2024-08-28). "Israeli forces kill at least 10 Palestinians in West Bank raids and strikes". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-08-29. In the first three weeks of August, according to UN figures, 128 Palestinians, including 26 children, were killed by airstrikes in the West Bank. A spokesperson for the UN Human Rights Office, Ravina Shamdasani, said that the IDF operations risked "seriously deepening the already catastrophic situation", and that two of the dead were reportedly children, bringing the overall death toll in the West Bank since 7 October to 637.
  21. ^ a b Halabi, Einav; Zitun, Yoav (2024-08-29). "Balata camp terrorists turned themselves in to PA over fear of IDF operation". Ynetnews. Retrieved 2024-08-29.
  22. ^ a b "Joint IDF counterterror operation kills 12 terrorists in Jenin and Tulkarm". The Jerusalem Post. 2024-08-29. Retrieved 2024-08-29.
  23. ^ a b Halabi, Einav; Zitun, Yoav (2024-08-29). "Balata camp terrorists turned themselves in to PA over fear of IDF operation". Ynetnews. Retrieved 2024-08-29.
  24. ^ a b "Joint IDF counterterror operation kills 12 terrorists in Jenin and Tulkarm". The Jerusalem Post. 2024-08-29. Retrieved 2024-08-29.
  25. ^ a b "Israel kills one of most wanted West Bank commanders as operation continues". The Washington Post. August 29, 2024.
  26. ^ "Israeli army says launches operation in West Bank". Arab News. 2024-08-28. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  27. ^ Rasheed, Zaheena; Quillen, Stephen (2024-08-29). "Israel claims killing top Palestinian fighter in West Bank firefight". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-08-29. The Israeli military said its forces killed the commander of the Tulkarem Battalion, Mohamed Jaber, also known as Abu Shuja'a, and four other Palestinian fighters in a firefight in the Nur Shams refugee camp in the occupied West Bank.
  28. ^ "At least 7 Palestinians killed in major Israeli raids on occupied West Bank". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  29. ^ a b c "Israel says Hamas leader killed as West Bank operation continues". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
  30. ^ Sawafta, Ali (30 August 2024). "Israeli forces kill local Hamas commander in West Bank". Reuters.
  31. ^ a b "Israel presses on with assault on occupied West Bank for third day". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
  32. ^ "Israeli forces launch a big operation in the West Bank and kill at least 10 militants". AP News. 2024-08-28. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
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