At least ten Palestinians have been killed, and nearly 40 others injured, in a large-scale Israeli military operation in the Jenin area of the occupied West Bank, according to the Palestinian health ministry. The operation, involving airstrikes, drones, and armoured vehicles, targeted the Jenin refugee camp, which Israel considers a hub for armed Palestinian groups.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the operation, dubbed “Iron Wall,” as an effort to “defeat terrorism” and bolster security in the West Bank. “We are acting methodically and with determination against the Iranian axis wherever it reaches,” Netanyahu stated, linking the operation to broader regional tensions.

Palestinian officials have condemned the raid, calling it part of a series of aggressive Israeli measures against Palestinians. The Palestinian Authority’s Prime Minister Mohammed Mustafa criticised the destruction caused by armoured bulldozers and airstrikes, which left roads and hospitals blocked, hindering medical aid.

In response, armed Palestinian groups, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad, called for escalated resistance against Israeli forces. The operation follows intensified violence in the West Bank after Hamas’s October 2023 attack on Israel and the subsequent Gaza war.

Adding to tensions, US President Donald Trump recently lifted sanctions on Israeli settlers accused of attacks in the West Bank. The decision, praised by far-right Israeli leaders, drew sharp criticism from Palestinian officials, who warned it could embolden extremist settlers.

The Jenin raid highlights escalating violence and deepening divisions in the region, raising concerns about further instability in the occupied territories.

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