In a dramatic escalation of tensions in the occupied West Bank, Israeli forces have launched a major military assault on the Palestinian city of Jenin, laying siege to a government hospital and nearby refugee camp. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said they carried out airstrikes and detonated explosive devices as part of the operation, which the Israeli defense minister described as a “shift in security strategy” in the territory.
The attack has left a trail of destruction and casualties in its wake. The Palestinian health ministry reported at least 10 people killed in Jenin, with over 40 wounded. Ambulances from the Palestinian Red Crescent have been prevented from reaching many of the dead and injured laying in the streets around the Jenin refugee camp, which lies at the heart of the besieged city.
Hospital Under Siege
The scene at the Khalil Suleiman governmental hospital in Jenin is one of chaos and fear. Wissam Bakr, the head of the hospital, said that Israeli forces have destroyed the roads leading to the facility and piled rubble to block the exits, trapping around 600 terrified staff and patients inside. Food and water supplies are dwindling, expected to last only a few days.
“The current situation is awful,” Bakr said. “Israeli forces destroyed the roads in front of the hospital. They put the rubble from the destroyed streets in front of hospital exits to prevent ambulances from entering or leaving.”
Two nurses and three doctors were shot on the main road to the hospital, he added, as the sound of intermittent gunfire could be heard over the phone. An Israeli drone buzzed menacingly overhead.
Refugee Camp Under Fire
The Israeli operation has also targeted the densely populated Jenin refugee camp, home to over 10,000 Palestinians. Nebal Farsakh, a spokesperson for the Palestinian Red Crescent, said the camp and surrounding areas are completely cut off.
“No one can break the siege on the refugee camp and the surrounding area,” Farsakh stated. Red Crescent medics have treated seven fatalities and 17 wounded so far, all with live ammunition injuries, but many more casualties remain inaccessible.
West Bank Lockdown
The assault on Jenin is part of a wider Israeli crackdown across the West Bank. Military checkpoints have choked off Palestinian cities, with a near-total lockdown in effect. Almost 900 checkpoints and barriers have been erected by Israeli forces, the Palestinian Liberation Organisation reports.
“For two days we have been experiencing an extensive military lockdown,” said Aseel Baidoun from Medical Aid for Palestinians in Ramallah. “The Israeli army has placed hundreds of new checkpoints that are making the movement between towns and cities almost impossible. People have reported delays at checkpoints averaging between six and eight hours.”
At least 29 Palestinians were arrested in raids on refugee camps and cities like Bethlehem and Tulkarm, Palestinian media reported. Settler attacks against Palestinian villages have also surged, with over 21 injuries reported, including children.
Political Motives
Analysts say the military operation is driven more by Israeli political considerations than security concerns. With the ceasefire in Gaza just days old, the assault on Jenin seems timed to appease far-right coalition partners like finance minister Bezalel Smotrich.
“There is no operational justification for action in the West Bank,” argues Professor Yagil Levy, a civil-military relations analyst. The aim, he contends, is “to undermine the Palestinian Authority, destabilize the West Bank, continue covert annexation, and appease Smotrich and his party.”
As the siege of Jenin grinds on and the humanitarian toll mounts, fears are growing that the escalation could shatter the fragile calm in Gaza and plunge the Israeli-Palestinian conflict into a dangerous new phase. With tensions at a boiling point, the coming days will be decisive in determining whether the region steps back from the brink, or hurtles into a wider conflagration.
