Jenin, West Bank – An Israeli airstrike near the village of Kafr Qud, northwest of Jenin, has resulted in the deaths of three Palestinians, further escalating tensions in the occupied West Bank. The incident, which occurred early Tuesday morning, has drawn condemnation from Palestinian factions and raised concerns about a potential surge in violence.
The Israeli military confirmed the strike, stating that it targeted “Palestinian militants” who were allegedly planning an imminent attack near Jenin. According to a statement released by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the operation was conducted based on intelligence provided by the Shin Bet, Israel’s internal security agency. The IDF claimed the individuals killed were members of a militant cell operating out of the Jenin refugee camp.
Israeli media outlets offered varying accounts of the operation. Channel 12 News reported that snipers from the Yamam, a special police unit, initially engaged the militants, who were reportedly hiding in a cave near Jenin. Subsequently, the air force was deployed to destroy the infrastructure in the area, the report claimed.
Palestinian sources described a different scenario. According to local news reports, Israeli forces surrounded a house west of Jenin before dawn, leading to intense armed clashes and aerial bombardment of the surrounding area. Witnesses reported heavy gunfire and a large explosion, with plumes of smoke rising from the scene. Social media footage purported to show the aftermath of the strike, depicting a destroyed vehicle and damage to nearby buildings.
The Islamic Jihad movement issued a statement condemning the killings as a “new episode in the series of war crimes and systematic persecution” perpetrated by the Israeli occupation. The group asserted that the use of sniper fire and airstrikes in populated areas constituted a dangerous escalation and reflected the “criminal nature” of the Israeli government.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz responded to the incident by vowing a harsh response to any attempts by what he termed “terrorist organizations” to rebuild their infrastructure in the West Bank. Katz stated that he had instructed the military to take all necessary measures to eliminate “terrorist threats” in the area and reiterated that Israeli forces would maintain their presence in Jenin, Tulkarm, and Nur Shams refugee camps to prevent attacks. He further warned that anyone who “aids terrorism, shelters terrorists, or assists terrorists” would be dealt with according to the “Jenin model,” a reference to past large-scale military operations in the Jenin refugee camp.
The incident comes amid a backdrop of heightened tensions in the West Bank. In recent months, there has been a surge in clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinian militants, as well as an increase in settler violence against Palestinians. The ongoing expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied territories, deemed illegal under international law, continues to fuel resentment and contribute to the cycle of violence.
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In related developments, Israeli forces arrested ten Palestinians during raids in various parts of the West Bank. The arrests were carried out as part of ongoing security operations targeting individuals suspected of involvement in militant activities.
Furthermore, the Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission reported that Israeli authorities had issued five new military orders authorizing the seizure of approximately 73 dunams (18 acres) of Palestinian land in the Ramallah and al-Bireh governorates. The stated justification for the land seizures was security and military purposes. The Commission noted that Israel has created 30 new buffer zones around settlements since October 2023, a move aimed at establishing permanent facts on the ground and seizing more Palestinian territory.
The Commission further stated that these recent orders are an extension of previous orders issued by the Israeli occupation forces over the past three years under the name of “seizure,” which have led to the seizure of more than 75,000 dunams of West Bank land under the pretext of security and military purposes. These land seizures are a major source of friction between Palestinians and Israelis, further undermining the prospects for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
The international community has repeatedly called on Israel to halt its settlement expansion and respect international law. However, Israel continues to defy these calls, arguing that it has a right to build on land that it considers to be part of its historical territory. The ongoing conflict between Israelis and Palestinians remains one of the most intractable disputes in the world, with little prospect of a lasting peace agreement in the near future. The latest incident near Jenin serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of the situation and the urgent need for renewed efforts to de-escalate tensions and find a just and sustainable solution to the conflict.
The airstrike and subsequent developments are likely to further inflame tensions and could potentially trigger a new wave of violence. The Palestinian Authority has condemned the Israeli actions and called for international intervention to protect Palestinian civilians. The situation remains volatile, and the potential for further escalation is high. DZWatch will continue to provide updates as the situation unfolds.
