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2024 Israeli military operation in the West Bank

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Since 28 August 2024, Israel has launched a large-scale military operation in the occupied West Bank.[24][25][26]

2024 Israeli military operation in the West Bank
Part of Israeli incursions in the West Bank during the Israel–Hamas war

The West Bank in 2024, with the Palestinian enclaves in green and the Israeli settlements in light blue
Date28 August 2024–ongoing
Location
Israeli-occupied West Bank, Palestine
Belligerents
 Israel

State of Palestine Palestinian militant groups

Commanders and leaders
Unknown Hamas Wassem Hazem †
Palestinian Islamic Jihad Abu Shujaa †
Units involved

 Israel Defense Forces

Israeli Border Police		  al-Qassam Brigades
 Al-Quds Brigades
 Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades
Tulkarm Brigade
Jenin Brigades
Khalil al-Rahman Brigade[5]
Casualties and losses
2 IDF soldiers killed,[7][8][6]3 wounded[6]
3 police officers killed[9]
3 settlers killed,[10]3 wounded[11]
2+ armoured vehicles damaged[12]

At least 19 insurgents killed[13][14]
Per Israel:[15][16][17]
23+ insurgents killed

30+ suspected insurgents arrested
At least 49 Palestinians killed, 1 foreign activist killed[a][19] (including a woman, a disabled person, a UNRWA staff, two elderly people and several children)[20][21][22]
At least 150 wounded[23]

It is Israel's largest military operation in the West Bank in more than 20 years since its Operation Defensive Shield in 2002,[27] and is a significant escalation of the continual Israeli incursions into the region against Palestinian militants during the ongoing Israel–Hamas war. Israel calls it "Operation Summer Camps" (Hebrew: מבצע מחנות קיץ),[28][29][30] while Palestinian militants have labeled their response as the "Horror of the Camps" (Arabic: رعب المخيمات) operation.[31][32]

Israel says its goal is to stop Palestinian militant activity in the West Bank, whereas Palestinians feel that this could be an expansion of the war that aims to expel them out of the territories they aim to establish a state on.[33] Israel also says the raids are aimed to thwart Palestinian suicide bombings, following a failed attempt in Tel Aviv.[34]

The Israeli operation has resulted in the deaths of several militants, including Abu Shujaa, leader of the Tulkarm Brigade, who was wanted by Israel for his involvement in violent attacks against Israeli targets.[35] This was followed by the killing of Wissam Khazem, Hamas's head in Jenin.[36]

Background

Israel's military operation occurs as Israeli settler violence targeting Palestinian infrastructure and civilians in the West Bank has surged.[25] More than 650 Palestinians in the West Bank, including gunmen and civilians were killed since the Hamas-led October 7 attacks, which began the ongoing war, while 27 Israelis, including both civilians and security forces were killed in Palestinian attacks within Israel and the West Bank.[34][37][38]

Timeline

28 August

Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Arabic spokesman Avichay Adraee announced a counterterrorism operation called "Summer Camps" in a joint statement with the Shin Bet.[39][40] Israeli foreign minister Israel Katz stated that the operation was a "full-fledged war" focused on stamping out "terrorist infrastructures", accusing Iran of trying to establish an "eastern terrorist front" against Israel in the West Bank by funding and arming local militants.[27][41] The Israeli operation came about following a failed suicide bombing in Tel Aviv by a Hamas operative, and calls by Hamas for the renewal of suicide attacks.[34][improper synthesis?]

Hundreds of troops from the IDF,[39][42] as well as bulldozers and air support, began operating in Tulkarm and Jenin.[26] Operations were also reported in al-Fara'a refugee camp, near Tubas. Entry points into Tulkarm and Jenin were blocked off by the IDF, which also encircled two hospitals in Tulkarm.[26]

29 August

The IDF killed Muhammad Jabber, known as Abu Shujaa, who led the Tulkarm Brigade, based in Nur Shams. He was wanted by Israel for his involvement in planning and executing multiple attacks against Israeli targets, including the June 2024 shooting of an Israeli civilian.[35][25]

Hamas and PIJ in Tulkarm and Jenin targeted IDF troops operating in these cities with ambushes and explosives.

The IDF withdrew from the al-Fara'a refugee camp, claiming they completed "the objective of foiling terror, exposing terrorist infrastructure and eliminating armed terrorists".[43]

The IDF also withdrew from Tulkarm.[44][45]

30 August

Israeli Border Police forces killed Wassem Hazem, the head of Hamas in Jenin, near the town of Zababdeh.[43][46][36] The Jenin Brigades reported "fierce clashes" with Israeli soldiers inside Jenin.[47]

Two car bombs were used to attack Israeli settlements near Hebron.[48]

31 August

Aftermath of the raid on Jenin

The IDF announced that a squad commander of the Bislamach Brigade's 906th Battalion was killed and three others were injured during a shootout with two Hamas fighters in Jenin. Both militants were also killed.[6]

1 September

The Khalil al-Rahman Brigade, a minor Palestinian militant group, killed three Israeli police officers who were driving near Hebron.[49][50][51]

2 September

The IDF reentered Tulkarm.[45]

3 September

A Palestinian girl, Lujain Musleh, aged 16, was reportedly shot dead by the Israeli military in Kafr Dan when she looked out of her home's window; the Israeli military responded that "terrorists opened fire at IDF soldiers in the area, and in response the soldiers fired back at a suspect who observed the forces in the area, in order to remove a threat".[52]

6 September

Turkish-American female activist Aysenur Eygi, aged 26, was reportedly shot and killed at a protest at Beita, Nablus. Witnesses accused the Israeli military of shooting Eygi in the head. The IDF said that it "responded with fire toward a main instigator of violent activity who hurled rocks at the forces and posed a threat to them."[53]

The IDF withdrew from Jenin, Tulkarm, and their refugee camps.[45][54][55] Following the Israeli withdrawal from Jenin, militants were seen parading through the city.[56]

There was speculation that the withdrawals signified the operation had concluded, but Israel clarified that it was not over and that its forces would continue military actions "in order to achieve the objectives of the counterterrorism operation".[54][57][58]

10 September

The IDF returned to operate inside Tulkarm and its surrounding refugee camps.[59][60][61]

11 September

An Israeli airstrike near Tubas killed 5 people.[62]

It was reported that the Palestinian Authority agreed to a new security deal with Israel that could see its National Security Forces fighting alongside the IDF in the operation.[63]

Responses

UN secretary general António Guterres, called for Israel to end its operations in the West Bank.[34] UN secretary general spokesman said Israel should "exercise maximum restraint and use lethal force only when it is strictly unavoidable to protect life."[34] The Israeli ambassador to the UN, responded by saying that Israel will not wait for suicide bombings, adding that bombs were being smuggled in by Iran.[34] The United States called for Israel to protect civilians in the West Bank during its operations, and recognized Israeli security reasoning for the operation.[34]

Hamas called for Palestinians in the West Bank to rise up and blamed the escalation on United States support for Israel. It also called on the Palestinian Authority's security forces to join the fighting against Israel. The Palestinian Authority condemned the operation and called on the United States to intervene.[64]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ 21 in Jenin, 13 in Tubas, 12 in Tulkarm, 3 in Hebron, 1 in Nablus.[18]

References

  1. ^ Mohammed, Majdi; Lidman, Melanie (29 August 2024). "Israel kills a top militant in its deadliest West Bank raids since the Gaza war began". AP. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
  2. ^ Angel, Maytaal; Sawafta, Ali (29 August 2024). "Israel says it killed Islamic Jihad commander in gunbattle at West Bank mosque". Reuters. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
  3. ^ "Israeli Military Says It Killed More West Bank Militants, Including Islamic Jihad Commander". Time. 29 August 2024.
  4. ^ "US largely silent on Israel's West Bank assault as ally Jordan gets rattled". Middle East Eye. 28 August 2024.
  5. ^ a b "3 cops killed in southern West Bank shooting attack; IDF pursuing gunmen". Times of Israel. Retrieved 2024-09-01.
  6. ^ a b c d "Soldier killed, 3 injured in shootout with Hamas gunmen in West Bank's Jenin". The Times of Israel. 31 August 2024. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
  7. ^ "Indian-origin Israeli soldier killed amid escalating tensions in West Bank". The Hindu. 12 September 2024.
  8. ^ "Israeli Soldier Killed in Jenin Ambush - Army Claims Hamas Leader Eliminated in Strike". August 30, 2024.
  9. ^ "3 Israeli police officers killed in shooting in southern occupied West Bank". Anadolu Agency. 1 September 2024. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  10. ^ "Gunman crossing from Jordan kills three Israelis at border, Israeli army says". Reuters. September 8, 2024. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
  11. ^ "Three Israeli cops killed in drive-by shooting attack near Hebron". Ynet. 1 September 2024. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  12. ^ "Israel's war on Gaza live: Polio vaccinators prevented from entry | Israel-Palestine conflict News | Al Jazeera".
  13. ^ Adler, Nils; Siddiqui, Usaid. "Man injured in occupied West Bank town during raid". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-09-01. Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad say at least 14 of the dead were members of their armed wings.
  14. ^ Gostoli, Federica Marsi,Ylenia (13 September 2024). "Al-Quds Brigades mourn 5 fighters killed by Israel in Tubas". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 13 September 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  15. ^ Mohamed, Edna (5 September 2024). "Israeli drone kills at least six Palestinians in occupied West Bank". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 5 September 2024. Israel says the military aircraft targeted Palestinian fighters who "posed a threat" to their forces in Tubas.
  16. ^ "IDF carries out aerial strike during West Bank operation". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 2024-09-11. Retrieved 2024-09-13.
  17. ^ Marsi, Federica; Quillen, Stephen (6 September 2024). "Israeli army says 14 killed during Jenin siege". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 6 September 2024. The Israeli army has released a statement saying it killed 14 "terrorists" and arrested more than 30 "suspects" in Jenin, during a siege that lasted 10 days.
  18. ^ "50 killed in Israel's militarised raids on West Bank". Al Jazeera. 12 September 2024. One woman killed in Nablus
  19. ^ "Death toll from Israeli attack on Tulkarem rises". Al Jazeera. 2024-09-12. Retrieved 2024-09-05.
  20. ^ "Israel says Hamas leader killed as West Bank operation continues". BBC News. 2024-08-30. Retrieved 2024-08-30. At least 19 Palestinians have been killed since the start of the Israeli operation, which is one of the biggest in the West Bank in two decades, according to the Palestinian health ministry. But the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (Unrwa) said children and one person with disabilities were reportedly among the dead.
  21. ^ Gostoli, Federica Marsi,Ylenia (13 September 2024). "UNRWA confirms its worker killed in occupied West Bank". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 13 September 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  22. ^ "At least 33 killed as Israel continues its deadly military operation in northern West Bank". www.aa.com.tr. Retrieved 2024-09-13. "Seven children and two elderly people were among the victims," the ministry added in a statement.
  23. ^ Mohamed, Edna; Najjar, Farah (2024-09-05). "Death toll in occupied West Bank rises to 39 after Israeli raids". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-09-05. At least 150 people have been wounded, it said.
  24. ^ Pope, Felix (2024-08-28). "Israel launches largest West Bank raid in decades". The Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved 2024-08-29.
  25. ^ a b c Fox, Kara (2024-08-29). "As the world focuses on Gaza, the West Bank has reached boiling point. Here's what to know". CNN. Retrieved 2024-08-29.
  26. ^ a b c Hudson, John; Morris, Loveday; Vinall, Frances; Parker, Claire; Balousha, Hazem (2024-08-28). "Israel launches major operation in West Bank; Palestinian officials say 9 killed". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  27. ^ a b Hamamdjian, Daniele; Da Silva, Chantal; Arkin, Daniel (2024-08-28). "Israeli operation in occupied West Bank leaves at least 10 dead in largest raid in decades". NBC News. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  28. ^ "'All the streets were destroyed:' Palestinians count the cost as Israel pulls back from Jenin". CNN. 2024-09-06. Retrieved 2024-09-10.
  29. ^ Adler, Jonathan (2024-09-04). "Inside the brutal siege of Jenin". +972 Magazine. Retrieved 2024-09-10.
  30. ^ Menachem, Yoni Ben (2024-09-01). "The IDF's "Operation Summer Camps" Against the Iranian Terrorist Army on the West Bank". Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs. Retrieved 2024-09-10.
  31. ^ admin (2024-09-09). "Jenin Resurrected - Resistance Roundup - Day 339". Palestine Chronicle. Retrieved 2024-09-10.
  32. ^ "Israel begins biggest West Bank operation in decades | MR Online". mronline.org. 2024-09-01. Retrieved 2024-09-10.
  33. ^ "Israel launches a big military operation in the West Bank and kills at least 10 Hamas militants". AP News. August 28, 2024.
  34. ^ a b c d e f g Magid, Jacob (29 August 2024). "UN calls for end to IDF's West Bank raid; Israel: We have to thwart suicide bombings". The Times of Israel.
  35. ^ a b "Israel kills one of most wanted West Bank commanders as operation continues". The Washington Post. August 29, 2024.
  36. ^ a b "Israel says Hamas leader killed as West Bank operation continues". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 2024-08-31.
  37. ^ "Israel kills prominent militant as it wages its deadliest West Bank raids since the Gaza war began". AP News. 2024-08-29. Retrieved 2024-08-29. The Palestinian Health Ministry says over 650 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank since the start of the war. Most appear to have been militants killed in gunbattles during Israeli operations like the one this week, but civilian bystanders and rock-throwing protesters have also been killed, and the territory saw a surge of Jewish settler violence.
  38. ^ Borger, Julian; Taha, Sufian (2024-08-28). "Israeli forces kill at least 10 Palestinians in West Bank raids and strikes". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-08-29. In the first three weeks of August, according to UN figures, 128 Palestinians, including 26 children, were killed by airstrikes in the West Bank. A spokesperson for the UN Human Rights Office, Ravina Shamdasani, said that the IDF operations risked "seriously deepening the already catastrophic situation", and that two of the dead were reportedly children, bringing the overall death toll in the West Bank since 7 October to 637.
  39. ^ a b "Israeli Army Says Launches Operation In West Bank". Barron's. Agence France-Presse. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  40. ^ "Israeli army says launches operation in West Bank". Arab News. 2024-08-28. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  41. ^ Rasheed, Zaheena; Quillen, Stephen (2024-08-29). "Israel claims killing top Palestinian fighter in West Bank firefight". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-08-29. The Israeli military said its forces killed the commander of the Tulkarem Battalion, Mohamed Jaber, also known as Abu Shuja'a, and four other Palestinian fighters in a firefight in the Nur Shams refugee camp in the occupied West Bank.
  42. ^ "At least 7 Palestinians killed in major Israeli raids on occupied West Bank". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  43. ^ a b "Israel says Hamas leader killed as West Bank operation continues". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
  44. ^ "Israel presses on with assault on occupied West Bank for third day". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-09-12.
  45. ^ a b c "Israeli forces withdraw from Jenin, Tulkarm after 10-day offensive, leaving widespread death, destruction". www.aa.com.tr. Retrieved 2024-09-12.
  46. ^ Sawafta, Ali (30 August 2024). "Israeli forces kill local Hamas commander in West Bank". Reuters.
  47. ^ "Israel presses on with assault on occupied West Bank for third day". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
  48. ^ "Institute for the Study of War". Institute for the Study of War.
  49. ^ "Palestinian militants kill 3 Israeli police in the West Bank". AP News. 2024-09-01. Retrieved 2024-09-10.
  50. ^ "Three Israeli police killed in West Bank shooting attack". Reuters. 1 September 2024.
  51. ^ "Israeli officers killed in West Bank shooting amid deadly Jenin raids". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-09-10.
  52. ^ Moench, Mallory; Gritten, David (4 September 2024). "Girl 'killed inside home' as Israeli West Bank operation continues". BBC News. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
  53. ^ "American activist shot dead by Israeli forces at West Bank protest, eyewitnesses say". CNN. 6 September 2024. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
  54. ^ a b Sharp, Alexandra (2024-09-11). "Israel's Military Pulls Out of Jenin". Foreign Policy. Retrieved 2024-09-10.
  55. ^ "West Bank: Israeli forces pull out of Jenin after major operation". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 2024-09-10.
  56. ^ "Palestinian Militants in the West Bank Flex New Capabilities". The New York Times. 9 September 2024.
  57. ^ "Iran Update, September 6, 2024". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 2024-09-12.
  58. ^ "Israeli forces appear to withdraw from Jenin. But the operation may not be over". AP News. 2024-09-06. Retrieved 2024-09-12.
  59. ^ "Israeli forces continue Tulkarm siege for second day". Middle East Monitor. 11 September 2024.
  60. ^ Fabian, Emanuel (10 September 2024). "IDF renews major crackdown in northern West Bank, operating in Tulkarem area". The Times of Israel.
  61. ^ "Iran Update, September 10, 2024". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 2024-09-12.
  62. ^ "Five Killed in Israeli Airstrike Amid West Bank Tensions". EFE Noticias. 2024-09-11. Retrieved 2024-09-12.
  63. ^ "PA agrees security deal with occupation regime amid Gaza genocide". Middle East Monitor. 11 September 2024.
  64. ^ "Israeli forces launch a big operation in the West Bank and kill at least 10 militants". AP News. 2024-08-28. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
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