Jerusalem, Sep 5 (EFE).- Israeli troops withdrew early Friday from the city of Jenin and its refugee camp, in the occupied West Bank, after a 10-day incursion in which many people were killed and injured, according to the official Palestinian news agency, Wafa.
So far, the Israeli military has not commented on whether this withdrawal represents the definitive end of its «anti-terrorist operation» launched on Aug. 28 in this city, and also in the northern cities of Tulkarem and Tubas, all historic strongholds of Palestinian militias.
Israeli forces raided the three towns simultaneously with troops, tanks, bulldozers and even explosive drones with what it said was the aim of dismantling Hamas and Islamic Jihad networks.
While Wafa reported 21 dead, the Ministry of Health of the Palestinian National Authority, which governs increasingly smaller parts of the occupied West Bank, said that 38 Palestinians were killed in the air strikes and combat between soldiers and militants, including eight minors and two elderly people.
The Israeli military told EFE that more than 30 killed were militants, and that they arrested another 46.
In addition, it said that they had confiscated two dozen weapons, destroyed three bomb laboratories and neutralized dozens of explosives.
The Israeli assault also injured some 150 people and destroyed or damaged numerous streets, houses, businesses and electrical infrastructure. In addition, residents are now concerned about a possible return of the troops as has happened in the past, according to Wafa.
The incursion in Jenin has become one of the longest and bloodiest in the history of the Israeli military, lasting 10 consecutive days.
More than 70 percent of the streets were damaged or destroyed by the armored vehicles, according to the municipality.
Journalists and photographers reported attacks by troops while covering the situation. Two Wafa photographers were shot and wounded on Tuesday when the Israeli military opened fire in the west of Jenin, according to the outlet.
This city is a historic bastion of Palestinian armed resistance in the north of the occupied West Bank. In its refugee camp live some 14,000 people descended from Palestinians displaced after the creation of Israel in 1948, and most are young unemployed people.
In recent years, a new generation of Palestinians have joined the Jenin Brigade as militants, a loosely coordinated amalgam that includes members of Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade.
More than 650 Palestinians, including 150 children, have been killed by Israeli fire throughout the West Bank, since Oct. 7. EFE
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