JENIN, West Bank, Sept 5 (Alliance News): Residents of Jenin are assessing the destruction left behind after nine days of intense Israeli military operations, marking the deadliest period in the West Bank since November, according to the UN.
Witnesses describe widespread devastation, likening the military actions to those in Gaza, with severed water and electricity supplies, and residents forced to ration food.
The Israeli military, which has since paused its operations, launched what it called a “counterterrorism operation” in Jenin, Tulkarem, and Tubas last week, CNN reported.
The operation, dubbed “Operation Summer Camps,” targeted alleged militant groups, but the toll on civilians has been immense.
A total of 39 Palestinians have been killed, including eight children, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.
Residents report widespread destruction of streets and critical infrastructure. Tawfiq Qandeel, an 85-year-old resident, was killed while returning from Friday prayers, his body left in the street for hours.
Video footage shared by the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs shows Israeli military vehicles running over his corpse, sparking outrage. Journalists in nearby areas have also been fired upon by Israeli forces.
The United Nations reports that Israeli authorities have destroyed or forced the demolition of 1,478 structures in the West Bank since October. The mayor of Jenin stated that over 70% of the city’s vital infrastructure has been destroyed during the recent incursion.
