In Jenin, Jericho, and throughout the occupied West Bank, the Israeli army carries out new deadly raids

In Jenin, Jericho, and throughout the occupied West Bank, the Israeli army carries out new deadly raids

Between the evening of September 19 and the morning of September 20, 2023, Israeli troops carried out offensives in many areas of the occupied West Bank. Among these attacks, the bloodiest took place in Jenin and Jericho, with refugee camps as the main targets. The Jenin refugee camp experienced its second major offensive since the attack at the beginning of July 2023.

Five people were killed overnight. Their names were: Mahmoud Al-Saadi (23 years old), Mahmoud Ararawi (24 years old), Raafat Khamaysa (22 years old), Atta Musa (29 years old) and Dargham Al-Akhras (19 years old).
On the evening of September 19, 2023, a coordinated offensive took place for several hours in the Jenin refugee camp. In addition to the ground raid, the camp was hit by three airstrikes on civilian homes. The offensive also focused on the rest of the city of Jenin.

Jenin experienced significant clashes. Israeli troops came with the aim of killing as many armed resistance fighters as possible and carrying out mass arrests. Shootings therefore broke out between Israeli soldiers and Jenin fighters. Four camp residents were killed. They were between 22 and 29 years old.

Clashes of incredible violence also broke out between residents and Israeli soldiers. The Israeli army fired on sight at Palestinians protesting against this umpteenth attack. The numbers are still evolving, but at least between 30 and 50 people were shot and injured by the Israeli army.
From the first clashes between the population and the soldiers, dozens of military vehicles entered Jenin to reinforce the troops in the camp.
As on numerous occasions in recent months, the Israeli army prevented emergency services from accessing injured people and targeted the minaret of the camp’s mosque several times. A play was even being performed inside the Freedom Theater, a regular target of Israeli soldiers.
After this attack lasting a few hours, the troops withdrew, leaving behind the chaos as during the last two attacks on the Jenin refugee camp.

Following this attack, a general strike was declared in the refugee camp and in the rest of the city of Jenin.

But during the night, dozens of Israeli soldiers occupied the village of Jalboun northeast of Jenin. Troops search and ransack houses one by one in search of fighters to arrest. Grenades were even thrown inside the village school.

The village is now under total military occupation. Israeli troops even evicted some residents in order to transform one of the main houses into military barracks.

A few hours later, on the morning of September 20, a raid was also launched in the Aqbat Jaber refugee camp in Jericho. An impressive number of military vehicles stormed the refugee camp with the aim of capturing Palestinians. Dozens of residents were arrested.

The soldiers methodically searched the camp’s homes, ransacked numerous businesses and homes, and attacked numerous families during their searches. This research was carried out by Israeli special forces. Their arrival led to major clashes with the camp population. Largely overwhelmed by the crowd, Israeli troops received the support of a large convoy of reinforcements. The latter therefore fired on sight into the crowd and released streams of tear gas on the residents of the camp.

It was in this context that the young Dargham Al-Akhras (19 years old) was shot dead. Hit by several bullets, including one to the head, young Al-Akhras succumbed to his wounds a few hours later at Jericho hospital. Dargham Al-Akhras, is the 13th Palestinian killed in Jericho since the start of 2023.

Sources: WAFA/ Eye on Palestine / Times of Gaza/ Younis Tirawi/ Quds News Network / Days of Palestine / V Palestine

Photo: The Palestine Chronicle

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