Israel Forced to Retreat from Jenin, West Bank
Israel launched its biggest attack on the West Bank in 20 years. With Jenin in ruins, a recap of the last 48 hours.
Israel launched its biggest attack on the West Bank in 20 years, obliterating many parts of Jenin refugee camp. To do this, Israel sent troops, armored vehicles, drones, planes, and helicopters— a devastating attack that destroyed homes, infrastructure, and lives.
Israel killed 13 Palestinians, many of them teenagers. Hundreds more were wounded, 20 of them in critical condition.
Jenin refugee camp is barely 0.5 km² in size, populated by over 14,000 people. The idea that Israel can attack it without causing civilian casualties is ludicrous.
Over a thousand Israeli troops were sent in to attack the Palestinian refugee camp, which over the years has become a symbol of resistance against the occupation because of Israel's failure to conquer or tame it.
Israeli forces went door to door, kicking families out of their homes at gunpoint. Others received text messages from Israeli numbers telling them to leave.
As a result of this latest assault, thousands of Palestinians were forced to flee their homes, literally in pyjamas, carrying nothing but their children.
Palestinians who are refugees in their own country turned into refugees once again.
Palestinian fighters confronted the Israeli invasion with Molotov cocktails. An Israel vehicle was filmed quickly driving away after being set on fire.
Israel openly targeted journalists. An Israeli soldier was seen using a camera as target practice. He casually opened the door of his jeep, and kept shooting at the microphone and camera until they were destroyed.
Israel also bulldozed homes in Jenin, destroying public utilities and infrastructure such as water, electricity, and the streets themselves:
An injured cat was nursed back to health by a Palestinian man:
Israel left Jenin looking like an apocalyptic wasteland, quite literally:
Jenin following Israel's attack:
After 2 days, Israel couldn’t complete its stated goal of uprooting the fighters and was forced to leave the camp.
Overnight, Gaza responded to the attack by launching rockets at Israel. Israel proceeded to bomb Gaza, with Jenin still in ruins.
This shows the new reality Israel is unable to contend with: whatever happens in the West Bank, Gaza will support them, and vice versa. Palestinian factions have united as one front, strengthening the Resistance Axis.
In retaliation to Israel's assault, a Palestinian man rammed a car into Israeli settlers in Tel Aviv, injuring 8 of them. This is a pattern I have observed and spoken of before: every time Israel decides to attack Jenin, the next day lone wolves will respond to the occupation.
Richard Medhurst
Watch my full explanation of what happened in Jenin: