- Israel initiates a significant military action in the West Bank territories.
Last night, the Israeli military initiated a significant operation in the occupied West Bank. Reports indicate that anti-terror operations are ongoing in the urban centers of Jenin and Tulkarem, both notorious for Palestinian militant activity. Media sources suggest that the Israeli forces are employing infantry units, drones, and snipers, while using bulldozers to damage infrastructure and block all entry routes to Jenin.
As per the health ministry in Ramallah, two individuals were fatally shot and several others sustained injuries in Jenin. Later, the Palestinian news agency Wafa reported an additional two deaths in a drone strike by the Israeli military on a refugee camp near Tubas. The exact identities of the deceased remain undisclosed. The military has not divulged details regarding its operation.
This operation is being hailed as one of the largest-scale operations carried out by the Israeli army in the northern West Bank in over two decades, as stated by "Al Jazeera". Palestinian residents are reportedly engaging Israeli soldiers with firearms and explosives in the refugee neighborhood of Nur Shams in Tulkarem. Clashes have also been documented in other West Bank towns.
According to Wafa, substantial military forces have gained access to Jenin, while "Al Jazeera" claims the city is completely isolated. The Israeli news site "ynet" reveals that security personnel are searching for wanted individuals in refugee neighborhoods in Jenin and Tulkarem. Both cities' hospitals have reportedly been surrounded by the army, with ambulances being barred from entry.
The volatile situation in the West Bank has escalated since the Hamas massacre on October 7, 2023, leading up to the Gaza war. Over 620 Palestinians have been killed since then, as per unconfirmed reports from the Ramallah health ministry, due to Israeli military operations, armed conflicts, and extremist attacks. There has also been an increase in attacks on Palestinians by Israeli settlers during this period.
Frequent encounters with the Israeli army occur in Jenin and Tulkarem. Just last Monday, five individuals lost their lives in an Israeli airstrike targeting militant Palestinians in the Nur Shams refugee neighborhood of Tulkarem, according to the health ministry.
Lebanon reports suspected Israeli drone strike
Frequent clashes between Israel's military and militant Palestinian groups in the West Bank have been replaced by almost daily confrontations with the Hezbollah militia and other organizations in the border area with Lebanon, leading to casualties on both sides. Most recently, Lebanese security sources and Al-Manar, the Hezbollah-affiliated television station, reported a possible Israeli drone attack on a truck in northeast Lebanon, approximately 100 kilometers from the border.
Witnesses claim that explosions took place following the attack, possibly due to the truck transporting weapons for Hezbollah. One individual was injured, as per the Lebanese Health Ministry. The region is known to be a stronghold for the Shiite Hezbollah militia. Israel has yet to provide a statement in response to the incident.
A hostage rescue in the Middle East
Amidst the ongoing violence in the Middle East, there was a glimmer of hope on Tuesday with the successful rescue of a hostage held by Islamic Hamas by Israeli special forces. The soldiers located Kaid Farhan Alkadi in one of Hamas' many underground tunnels in the Gaza Strip. They had reportedly spent several days searching the tunnel system, as stated in a Wall Street Journal report sourcing an Israeli military representative. "We exercised extreme caution and thoroughness because we knew we could encounter terrorists, hostages, or explosives," the source said.
According to the Haaretz newspaper, Alkadi called out to the soldiers during the operation, who discovered he was unguarded.
This marked the first live hostage rescue by Israeli troops from a Hamas tunnel. The seven individuals rescued in the past had been retrieved from residences in the Gaza Strip under heavy cost.
The rescued hostage, a 52-year-old Bedouin, is currently receiving medical treatment in a hospital and is reportedly in good health, according to Israeli sources. Israeli politicians and family members expressed elation over his release after 326 days in captivity.
"The whole Negev is celebrating!"
Bedouins belong to the Arab minority in Israel, often facing discrimination. Their estimated population reaches around 250,000 nationwide, with many living in the Negev desert in southern Israel. A relieved relative told "ynet" following the rescue operation, "The whole Negev is celebrating!"
Upon seeing his family, the man was described as emaciated. He reportedly witnessed another hostage's death alongside him.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Izchak Herzog both spoke with Alkadi, who urged them to "do everything you can to bring people home. Work around the clock and don't rest until they're returned," according to Herzog's office. "People are suffering greatly; you can't imagine," Alkadi told Herzog.
Alkadi was allegedly kidnapped on October 7 from a kibbutz on the border with the Gaza Strip, where he served as a security guard. Israeli media reports state that he is the father of 11 children.
Efforts for a ceasefire remain ongoing.
Meanwhile, clashes in the Gaza Strip carry on, accompanied by attempts to secure a truce and liberate any remaining captives. Israeli news outlets claim that an Israeli team is planning to visit Doha, Qatar's capital, for additional discussions surrounding an accord with Hamas. The back-and-forth talks, facilitated by Qatar, Egypt, and the USA, have been stagnant for quite some time now.
The Israeli military initiated this operation in the occupied West Bank, wherein they used their infantry units, drones, snipers, and bulldozers. Later, The health ministry in Ramallah reported multiple fatalities and injuries resulting from the operation.
