Deadliest Incident in Years Precedes US Secretary of State’s Visit
Israeli forces killed at least nine Palestinians, including a 60-year-old woman, during a raid in the Jenin refugee camp in the occupied West Bank, marking one of the deadliest days in the region in years. The raid occurred on Thursday, coinciding with rising tensions as Israel’s new right-wing government has committed to a hardline stance against Palestinians.
The operation, which took place during daylight hours, targeted an area known for the presence of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad militant group. Clashes erupted, resulting in dozens of injuries among civilians. At least one of the deceased has been identified as a militant, but it remains unclear how many others were affiliated with armed groups.
The raid comes just days before a scheduled visit by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to the region. Palestinian Health Minister May Al-Kaila reported that paramedics faced difficulties reaching the wounded due to ongoing violence, and she accused the Israeli military of firing tear gas into the pediatric ward of a local hospital, causing distress among children. Footage from the hospital depicted women evacuating children from treatment rooms amid the chaos.
The deceased include Magda Obaid, confirmed by Jenin hospital, while the Israeli military stated it is investigating reports surrounding her death. Another victim, 24-year-old Saeb Azriqi, succumbed to his injuries after being shot and brought to the hospital in critical condition.
The Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigade, an armed group linked to Fatah, claimed one of the deceased, Izz al-Din Salahat, as one of its fighters. In response to the violence, Akram Rajoub, the governor of Jenin, appealed to the international community for assistance in protecting Palestinian citizens against the actions of what he termed an “extremist right-wing government.”
Tensions between Israelis and Palestinians have surged following a series of Israeli raids that began last spring in response to a wave of Palestinian attacks that resulted in 19 fatalities. By the end of the year, further violence had raised the death toll to 30. In 2022, nearly 150 Palestinians were killed, making it the deadliest year since 2004, according to the Israeli rights group B’Tselem. Israel contends that most of the deceased were militants, although many were youths protesting against military incursions and others uninvolved in violence. This year, prior to Thursday’s events, one-third of Palestinians killed by Israeli forces were reported to have been non-combatants.
