The Jenin operation continued into a second night. The Qatari-run Al Jazeera and other pro-Palestinian media outlets covered the Jenin story by presenting jihadists killed in the operation as “victims.” Also, it is typical for Palestinian jihadists to hide among civilians and even hide weaponry in populated areas, because they know that any civilian deaths during Israeli defensive maneuvers can be manipulated for propaganda purposes. The term “human shields” was derived from this practice. Jenin also has a long established history of harboring jihadist armed groups, “most of which have been affiliated with the ruling Fatah faction.”
An IDF update stated:
“Terrorists in the Jenin Camp are concealing explosive devices on roads in civilian areas in the camp. This endangers innocent civilians who use the roads, as well as the security forces conducting counterterrorist activities in the area.”
Yet Al Jazeera reported this:
Israeli aggression targeted “defenseless civilians, including targeting ambulances, crews, and health centers, depriving them of treating the wounded, targeting mosques and homes, and destroying infrastructure”.
Syrian and Jordanian involvement in a multi-billion-dollar drug smuggling operation are also coming into the light during the Jenin operation. In a statement from Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, released by the Israel Government Press office at the start of the Jenin operation:
Over the past hours, our security forces have been operating against terror hotspots in the city of Jenin.
In the face of terrorism, we will take a proactive and decisive approach. Anyone who harms the citizens of Israel, will pay a heavy price.
We are closely watching the actions of our enemies and Israel’s defense establishment is prepared for every scenario.
I commend the IDF and ISA for their determination and operations.
“IDF launches large-scale op. in Jenin, 7 suspected terrorists killed,” Jerusalem Post, July 3, 2023:
The IDF on Sunday night launched its largest operation in Jenin since the Second Intifada with a series of more than ten airstrikes and moving brigade-level forces into the northern West Bank Palestinian city.
IDF sources and the political echelon made it clear that they were significantly upping the level of force being used to end a wave of terror dating back to March 2022, but the IDF home front command also got ready for potential revenge attacks by Hezbollah in Lebanon or Hamas and Islamic Jihad in Gaza.
The IDF Chief Spokesperson Brig.-Gen. Daniel Hagari said early Monday that as of now the operation is focused on Jenin, but that it could expand to other parts of the northern West Bank, also known as Samaria.
There were no indications that the IDF would expand the operation to the central and southern portions of the West Bank.
Duration and strategy in Jenin operation
Hagari refused to set a timeline for the operation, but the impression was that it would last a minimum of several days, and could easily last weeks or longer, but would not be open-ended and would not lead to the IDF trying to permanently hold territory in any way.It was also possible that the IDF might leave Jenin within days, but then initiate another large-scale operation elsewhere.
The IDF was careful not to attack any Palestinian Authority security forces and Hagari specifically said that the operation is against local Jenin terror groups and not the PA……
“Israeli operation in Jenin could end within days – IDF,” by Yonah Jeremy Bob, Jerusalem Post, July 4, 2023:
The IDF provided extensive details on Tuesday about its operation uncovering a wide variety of terror infrastructure in the Islamic Jihad-associated Al-Ansar Mosque in Jenin.
Already on Monday, there was fighting between IDF forces and Palestinians around and within parts of the mosque.
The IDF found hidden subterranean areas where explosives and weapons were located.
However, on Tuesday, the IDF provided an extensive infographic detailing no less than 12 different terror-related items spread across multiple floors of the mosque and the nearby areas.
Besides several different hidden weapons locations, the mosque was also a command and control center specifically for Islamic Jihad.
IDF neutralizes 11 explosive devices in Jenin
Israeli security forces deactivated 11 improvised explosive devices (IEDs) placed on roads and inside “terrorist infrastructure” in the Jenin refugee camp on Tuesday, according to an IDF statement.
The statement read: “Terrorists in the Jenin Camp are concealing explosive devices on roads in civilian areas in the camp. This endangers innocent civilians who use the roads, as well as the security forces conducting counterterrorist activities in the area.”…
Ray Jarman says
Maybe Emmanuel Macron should request IDF assistance in their war with the Islamic slugs in France. The Macron government sure is not taking the measures to combat the mortal enemy within his nation. Belgium, the UK, Niederland and other European leaders should look to the only defense force capable of extinguishing the present dangers that prevail in their nations.
James Lincoln says
Ray,
Perhaps Emmanuel Macron could, as an alternative, have French military members train with the IDF regarding anti-jihad tactics.
Hopefully it’s not too late…