The Israeli military carried out an extensive operation in the occupied West Bank on Wednesday, resulting in the deaths of at least nine individuals during intense clashes in cities like Jenin. This comes as tensions escalate amidst an ongoing war that has largely devastated Gaza.

On the same day, Foreign Minister Israel Katz urged a temporary relocation of Palestinians from Jenin and other areas in light of the significant anti-terror operations underway. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) indicated that they would allow residents wishing to leave the conflict zones to do so safely.

Israel is intensifying its focus on the West Bank while continuing military actions in Gaza, clashing with the Iran-backed Hezbollah in the north and facing threats to commercial ships, some of which have Israeli connections, from Houthi militants in Yemen.

Katz stated that the military is “working diligently” to dismantle Iran-backed terrorist networks in West Bank refugee camps such as Jenin and Tulkarm. He accused Iran of attempting to create an eastern front against Israel in the West Bank, following the patterns established in Gaza and Lebanon, by financing terrorists and smuggling arms from Jordan.

“We must confront this threat just as we are addressing the terrorist infrastructure in Gaza, which includes the possible temporary evacuation of Palestinian residents, as well as any necessary actions,” Katz remarked. “This is a war for our very existence, and we must emerge victorious.”

The IDF revealed that Wednesday’s assault was prompted by a significant increase in militant activity in the West Bank in recent months. In response, Israel has increased its operations there, while violence from settlers targeting Palestinians has also escalated. According to the U.N., over 600 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, since the onset of the war in Gaza.

Latest Updates:

∎ The U.S. government has imposed sanctions on the Israeli nonprofit Hashomer Yosh and a security official from a West Bank settlement in an attempt to curb extremist violence against Palestinians.

∎ According to U.N. statistics, nearly 90% of Gaza’s 2.3 million Palestinian residents have faced different evacuation mandates since the Hamas-led attack on Israel that triggered the ongoing conflict on October 7.

∎ The Israeli military stated that its air force “targeted and removed” at least three armed militants in Jenin posing a direct threat to ground troops. Special Forces also killed at least two additional militants, according to military reports.

∎ Israeli forces initiated Operation Mosk, during which airstrikes eliminated four armed terrorists in the Bekaa region of the West Bank who posed risks to Israeli troops. Additionally, military personnel confiscated weapons and located and destroyed explosive devices.

Hostage’s Heartbreaking Tale and Rescue

A former mayor of Rahat revealed that hostage Qaid Farhan Alkadi, recently rescued, shared that a fellow captive lost their life alongside him in Gaza.

Ata Abu Madighem told Channel 12 News that Alkadi, a Rahat resident, mentioned the other hostage was Jewish, and they had both been held captive together for nearly two months. Abu Madighem did not have further specifics. Alkadi, who is Muslim and part of Israel’s Arab Bedouin community, conveyed to Abu Madighem that he did not receive any special treatment from his captors.

“This has broken his heart. He has many painful memories,” Abu Madighem stated. “But he speaks gratefully of his rescue.”

Iran’s Strategy to Encircle Israel, According to Analysts

The IDF’s recent campaigns in the West Bank are a reaction to Iran’s strategy of creating a “ring of fire” with its proxies surrounding Israel, claims regional analyst and former Israeli intelligence operative Avi Melamed.

With the potential loss of control over Gaza by the Hamas faction, Melamed explained that Iran has intensified its efforts to weaken both Jordan and the Palestinian Authority-controlled West Bank, seeking to open another front against Israel.

He noted that Iran’s methods involve inciting unrest and protests in Jordan, which shares a border with Israel, alongside smuggling arms and narcotics into Jordan and the West Bank. He added that Iran-backed militants have established a presence in the extensive refugee camps that are currently the focus of Israeli military operations.

However, Melamed argues that merely targeting militants in these camps will not suffice. “In the end, all connections trace back to Tehran,” he stated, emphasizing that Iran’s imperialistic ambitions and aggressive behavior need to be addressed. “This is not just a regional concern but a global imperative.”

U.N.: Israeli Operations Breach ‘Human Rights Norms’

The ongoing Israeli military actions in the West Bank pose a significant risk of worsening the already dire humanitarian situation in the area, warns Ravina Shamdasani, spokeswoman for the U.N. Human Rights Office. She highlighted that numerous children have lost their lives “while protesting against heavily armed forces.”

Israeli security forces have been protecting themselves against other Palestinians who pose no immediate danger to life. According to her, as an occupying authority, Israel is required to follow its responsibilities under international law.

She further stated, “The utilization of airstrikes and various military strategies by Israeli security violates human rights standards and norms.”

Militants Target Israeli Vehicles in the West Bank

The armed factions from Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and Fatah reported that their members were setting off explosives targeting Israeli military vehicles in the West Bank. The Palestinian health ministry revealed that Israeli troops had surrounded the main hospital in Jenin, using earth barriers to prevent fighters from escaping.

Israeli Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani, a military spokesperson, indicated that this operation was a response to a significant increase in militant actions recently. He emphasized that there was an “immediate threat” to civilians, but noted that this action is part of a broader plan to prevent assaults.

“The terrorism risk in this region is not a new issue; it’s been ongoing and will continue,” Shoshani explained.

Palestinians Warn of ‘Serious Consequences’

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas announced that he would cut his visit to Saudi Arabia short due to the large-scale operations initiated by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) in the West Bank, according to Palestinian news agency Wafa.

Abbas’s spokesperson, Nabil Abu Rudeineh, cautioned that the military operation in the West Bank could lead to “serious consequences.” He urged the United States to intervene immediately and compel the occupying authorities to halt their “total war” against the Palestinian population.

“The international community needs to take urgent action to stop this extremist government, which threatens regional and global stability,” he asserted.

West Bank Experiences Persistent Unrest

In contrast to Gaza, which has been governed by Hamas before the conflict, the West Bank is partly administered by the Palestinian Authority. Israel took control of the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem—territories that Palestinians seek for their own state—during the Six Day War in 1967. Since then, Israel has constructed and expanded settlements in the West Bank, with nearly 500,000 Israelis now living there alongside about 3 million Palestinians.

The highest court of the United Nations recently ruled that Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territories are illegal, urging all states to collaborate in ending the Israel-Palestinian conflict.

Contributing: Reuters