The Israeli army escalated its attacks in the northern occupied West Bank city of Jenin on Friday, deploying additional reinforcements into the refugee camp, eyewitnesses told Anadolu.
Clashes and explosions rocked the area as bulldozers continued to demolish homes, commercial structures, and critical infrastructure in what locals described as systematic destruction over the past three days.
Dozens of Palestinians have been detained and transferred to nearby investigation centers, according to local sources.
The assault has prompted warnings of further escalation, with Jenin Deputy Governor Mansour al-Saadi likening the situation to the violence in Gaza and cautioning against a potential large-scale invasion.
Israeli media linked the offensive to political maneuvers by prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who promised the attack to appease far-right finance minister Bezalel Smotrich.
Smotrich, an outspoken opponent of the current ceasefire in Gaza, had threatened to resign, a move that could destabilize Netanyahu’s government.
Tensions remain high across the occupied West Bank, as Israel's war in Gaza has led to nearly 47,300 deaths and over 111,500 injuries, predominantly among women and children, since October 7, 2023.
In the occupied West Bank alone, at least 873 Palestinians have been killed, with over 6,700 wounded by Israeli forces, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.
A ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement in Gaza, implemented on January 19, paused the violence in the enclave but has done little to ease unrest elsewhere.
The International Court of Justice, in a July ruling, declared Israel’s long-standing occupation of Palestinian territories illegal and called for the evacuation of settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem al-Quds.