Israel’s military launched a sweeping offensive across the occupied West Bank early Wednesday, striking with a ferocity not seen in years, leaving at least 10 Palestinians dead in its wake. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF), collaborating with the Israel Security Agency (ISA), announced a vast counter-terror operation in the northern regions of Jenin and Tulkarem. This was no ordinary raid. Drones filled the skies, bulldozers tore through streets, and four battalions of the Israel Border Police, alongside elite undercover units, surged forward in a coordinated assault.
Israel launches large-scale military operation in occupied West Bank — MEE
Al Jazeera video shows IDF bulldozers destroying infrastructure, including sewage systems, water, and electricity networks, near Tulkarm on Tuesday.
— Rahini (@rahini1207) August 28, 2024
As Israeli bulldozers ripped through the streets of Tulkarem, a convoy of armored vehicles rumbled through Jenin. The military later released footage, claiming it showed the destruction of a militant operations center in the Nur Shams refugee camp near Tulkarem. Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz was quick to frame the operation as a preemptive measure against what he termed an “Islamic-Iranian terrorist infrastructure.” He accused Iran of attempting to forge an “eastern front” against Israel and called for decisive action to neutralize the threat, mirroring strategies used in Gaza.
Katz’s rhetoric was incendiary: “This is a war in every sense, and we must emerge victorious,” he declared on social media. The operation unfolded amidst heightened tensions, with Israel intensifying its military actions in the West Bank following the Gaza conflict sparked by Hamas’ attack on October 7.
Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani, the IDF’s international spokesperson, elaborated on the alleged threats, pointing to a “systematic strategy” by Iran to funnel weapons and explosives into the West Bank. According to Shoshani, there have been over 150 attacks emanating from Jenin and Tulkarem alone over the past year. The Palestinian Authority’s foreign ministry condemned what they called Israel’s “war of genocide” in Gaza and the “violations and crimes” in the West Bank.
🇮🇱🇵🇸Israel launched a “wide-scale” invasion of the occupied West Bank, the largest since 2002, imposing a full siege on hospitals in Jenin and Tulkarm. The attack involves hundreds of IOF units and air support.
Source: @Megatron_ron pic.twitter.com/99SohEZexW
— Ammarovic (@_ammarovic_) August 27, 2024
The death toll climbed throughout the morning as reports of casualties trickled in from across the region. Palestinian deaths were confirmed in Jenin, Tubas, and Kafr Dan, a village in Jenin district. The Palestinian Red Crescent Society reported that at least two people in Jenin were killed by Israeli military fire, while three others died in a drone strike on a vehicle. The scenes of devastation were stark—shattered buildings, plumes of smoke, and the ever-present wail of sirens.
Meanwhile, the Palestinian Ministry of Health warned that the Israeli offensive had severely impacted medical facilities, with hospitals under siege and roads blocked by military forces. Ambulance movements were heavily restricted, and the ministry voiced grave concerns about the safety of patients and medical staff caught in the crossfire.
Largest military operation by israel
Launched in west bankJust to destroy houses of Palestinians and to kill the innocents
Video source@QudsNen pic.twitter.com/z8Zt5FMwuA
— Zeeshan (@fun2_shh) August 28, 2024
The operation sparked outrage from various Palestinian factions. The Islamic Jihad militant group condemned the “comprehensive aggression” by Israel, branding it an “open and undeclared war.” Hamas called for a “general mobilization” against what it termed the occupation and accused Israel of engaging in widespread destruction with its extensive military actions.
Amid the chaos, Israel’s occupation of the West Bank—seized from Jordan in 1967—remains a focal point of conflict, exacerbated by the expansion of Jewish settlements deemed illegal under international law. The Palestinian health ministry has reported a staggering death toll since October 7, with over 650 Palestinians killed, including 150 children, and thousands more wounded. The relentless cycle of violence continues unabated, a tragic testament to the deep-seated animosities that have defined this troubled land.
Israel has launched a massive military attack on West Bank, ground troops supported by bulldozers, fighter aircrafts and drones – At least 9 Palestinians killed.
If October 7, why West Bank? If Hamas, why West Bank? If hostages, why West Bank? pic.twitter.com/oJaOqRCaPy— حضرتِ شیطان (@PakistaniShetan) August 28, 2024
Major Points
- Israel launched a major offensive in Jenin and Tulkarem, West Bank, killing at least 10 Palestinians with drones, bulldozers, and elite units targeting alleged militant infrastructure.
- The operation aimed to dismantle what Israel called an “Islamic-Iranian terrorist infrastructure,” claiming numerous attacks from these areas over the past year.
- Palestinian authorities condemned the assault, describing it as severe violations and crimes, as medical facilities were heavily impacted and ambulance movements restricted.
- Over 650 Palestinians, including children, have been killed since October 7 due to escalating violence in the region.
- The conflict intensifies despite international calls for Israel to withdraw from occupied territories, with peace prospects growing increasingly dim.
Conner T – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News
