DayofPal– For the fourth consecutive day, Jenin has been engulfed in attacks as Israeli forces press on with a new deadly assault, deliberately applying Gaza lessons in occupied West Bank.
The offensive, which has left a trail of destruction, forced displacement, and reports of field executions, is drawing sharp comparisons to the tactics refined during Israel’s military operations in the Gaza Steip.
On Tuesday, the Israeli army launched a new campaign targeting Jenin and its refugee camp, unleashing widespread devastation on infrastructure and rounding up residents in mass arrests. The siege, marked by relentless airstrikes and ground incursions, has intensified fears of a growing humanitarian crisis.
Israel’s Defense Minister, Israel Katz, described the operation as a strategic shift, claiming it reflects lessons learned from repeated Gaza raids. Katz framed the assault as a trial of new urban warfare tactics, stating, “This marks the first application of refined methods developed in Gaza.”
Military officials have remained tight-lipped on the specifics of the operation but acknowledged similarities to a large-scale raid last August that saw hundreds of troops, drones, and helicopters deployed across Jenin and other hotspots in the West Bank, according to Reuters.
This latest incursion is the third of its kind in under two years, underscoring the West Bank deepening instability.
As the dust settles over Jenin, the city bears the scars of an operation that appears to signal a new chapter in the war with Israel—one shaped by lessons of past wars and the unyielding cycle of violence.
Israeli military analyst Amir Bohbot stated that the operation aims to “preserve the Israeli army’s freedom of action” throughout the West Bank.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich added that the campaign marks the beginning of a shift in Israel’s security strategy in the West Bank, targeting the eradication of Palestinian resistance in the area—a goal tied to religious Zionist objectives presented during Friday’s cabinet session.
In a previous statement, Smotrich posted on X that “Al-Funduk, Nablus, and Jenin need to look like [Gaza’s] Jabalia,” referring to the massive destruction there.
The Iron Wall’s operation has killed more than 12 Palestinians and injured about 50 others on Jenin. This coincided with the withdrawal of PA security forces from the city.
Reports indicate that PA security personnel vacated their positions in Jenin shortly after the arrival of Israeli special forces, refraining from engaging in any confrontations or defending the camp.
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