By Edna-Ucliq
ISRAELI FORCES RAIDS IN WEST BANK INTENSIFY: FIVE PALESTINIANS KILLED
Five Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces in West bank on the second day of raids.
According to the IDF, they were “terrorists” who had holed up in a mosque in Tulkarm, a city by the frontier with Israel.
It was on Wednesday that the IDF launched its biggest counter-terrorism operation and spread to more cities.
The Palestinian health ministry reported 12 so far killed, which is higher than the IDF count.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres called for an immediate halt to the Israeli operation, saying it was “fuelling an already explosive situation” and called on Israeli forces to “exercise maximum restraint and use lethal force only when it is strictly unavoidable.”
The IDF identified one of the dead as Mohammed Jaber of Tulkarm, also known as Abu Shujaa. They described him as a leader in the Tulkarem Brigade and said he was affiliated with the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group.
The IDF said he was responsible for attacks on Israelis and was planning more.
The situation in Jenin is tense.
Ambulances were being blocked off by military jeeps around the government hospital in the refugee camp, a hub for armed groups and also civilians.
Access to the camp is very limited; even contacting those inside the camp is difficult because phone networks are down. Minimal reports are let out of the camp with sporadic sounds of explosions and gunfire.
According to the Israeli media, this operation might continue for many days. It said the IDF detained suspects and seized arms, while Palestinians reported home and infrastructure damage.
It was described as the biggest West Bank operation since the second intifada, or uprising.
This operation is aimed at stopping Iranian terror-by-proxy, and Israel can no longer just sit idly by while facing potential attacks,” Israel’s ambassador to the UN Danny Danon said.
European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has thus weighed in, expressing his concern that the operation should not be perceived to be a continuation of the Gaza conflict.
He has initiated debate on possible sanctions against some Israeli ministers, saying they promote hate and breach international law.
