Israeli forces killed six Palestinians in the occupied West Bank city of Jenin [Getty]
An Israeli air strike killed six Palestinians, including a 15-year-old boy, in the Jenin refugee camp in Jenin overnight on Wednesday, while at least three Israeli soldiers were wounded in confrontations.
Israeli forces also raided many homes, ransacking them, and leading to clashes with fighters in the area.
Hamas’s armed wing, the Qassam Brigades said four of those killed in the attacks were their members. They were identified as Baha Ibrahim Abu al-Haija, Moamen Ibrahim Abu al-Haija, Amir Ibrahim Abu al-Haija and Ibrahim Mustafa Qanari.
The other two killed were identified as Mahmoud Ashraf Gharbiyeh and Hussam Hassan Qanuh.
Eyewitnesses told The New Arab’s Arabic language sister publication told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that Israeli drones bombed three areas where people were gathered in Jenin’s refugee camp during the attacks. Videos which surfaced online showed Palestinians searching for the remains of their loved ones using flashlights amid a power outage.
This came before the Israeli army released a statement with the Shin Bet stating that “the Israeli Air Force launched a joint operation to raid the Jenin area,” without providing further details.
According to, Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, the raids marked the third time in the space of a week that Israeli forces had tried and failed to arrest those who they claim are wanted in the town of Qabatiya.
Palestinians in the city held a general strike and funerals with hundreds in attendance following the attack.
The Israeli army confirmed that three of their soldiers were injured south of Jenin on Wednesday when an explosive device was set off in a military vehicle in the evening.
Two of the soldiers were described as being in serious condition and were transferred to hospital for treatment.
The Jenin camp has been under full siege for 42 days due to armed clashes erupting between Palestinian Authority forces, Israeli forces and Palestinian resistance fighters. So far, a total of 15 Palestinians have been killed.
The Palestinian presidency expressed “strong condemnation and rejection” of the Israeli army’s actions in Jenin, adding it is a “completely unacceptable step that aims to ignite the situation”. However, the PA’s own forces had also besieged the camp with the backing of the Israeli military.
The statement added that it affirmed “President Mahmoud Abbas’ support for the efforts of the security services in implementing the rule of law, maintaining security and safety of citizens and not allowing for the tampering of the situation.”
Palestinian prisoner groups also announced that Israeli forces arrested at least 12 Palestinians in the occupied West Bank from Tuesday evening until Wednesday.
The arrests were carried out in Tulkarem, Ramallah, Nablus, Bethlehem and Qalqilya.
“The occupation forces continue to carry out extensive raids and abuse during arrest campaigns, accompanied by attacks and threats against detainees and their families, in addition to acts of vandalism and destruction in citizens’ homes,” the Palestinian Prisoner’s Society said in a statement.
