Israeli Forces Conduct Operations in Jenin Amid Ongoing Violence in West Bank

In late May, an Israeli sniper's bullet narrowly missed a journalist documenting a raid in Jenin, where Israeli forces conducted a 40-hour operation resulting in at least 11 deaths and over 30 injuries, according to the Palestinian Authority’s Ministry of Health. Local residents, accustomed to the presence of Israeli troops, are now grappling with the aftermath of the operation, which has revealed extensive damage as witnesses come forward. This incident coincided with Israel's intensified military actions in Gaza, where over 39,890 Palestinians have reportedly been killed since the onset of conflict. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) described the Jenin operation as a counter-terrorism effort, claiming the destruction of approximately 20 terrorist infrastructures, including an explosives lab. However, reports indicate that military vehicles were seen in civilian areas, including near hospitals and refugee camps. Journalists covering the event faced significant risks, with some injured and a paramedic reportedly arrested during the operation. The situation in the West Bank has deteriorated, with U.N. Human Rights Chief Volker Türk highlighting unprecedented bloodshed, as the death toll in the region surpassed 500. Following the May raid, Israeli forces returned to Jenin multiple times for further operations, resulting in additional casualties and injuries. Human rights experts have raised concerns over incidents of alleged human shielding, as video evidence surfaced showing an injured Palestinian man tied to an Israeli military vehicle. The ongoing violence has left many residents homeless, with damaged infrastructure and delayed ambulance access exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the region.