Jenin, West Bank — On Thursday, January 23, 2025, hundreds of Palestinians began to flee their homes as Israeli forces ramped up their military operation, “Iron Wall,” in the volatile Jenin area of the occupied West Bank. This raid comes on the heels of a ceasefire agreement in Gaza earlier this week, which marked the end of 15 months of conflict with Hamas.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that the operation’s goal is to “eradicate terrorism” in the area and is part of a larger strategy aimed at countering Iranian influence in the Middle East. Israel has accused Iran of providing weapons and financial support to militants throughout the region, including in the West Bank.
Jenin Governor Kamal Abu al-Rub reported that residents received evacuation orders via loudspeakers from drones and military vehicles. However, the Israeli military has denied issuing any such orders. According to figures from the Palestinian Health Ministry, at least 12 Palestinians have been killed and 40 injured since the operation commenced on January 21. Israeli forces have also detained several Palestinians, with footage showing detainees being blindfolded and taken from the area.
The military reported that two Palestinian militants were killed overnight in the nearby village of Burqin, claiming they were involved in a January 6 attack that resulted in the deaths of three Israelis. Violence in the West Bank has surged since the October 2023 Hamas attack on southern Israel, which was the deadliest in the nation’s history.
As the raid in Jenin continues, a fragile truce remains in place in Gaza, where over 47,200 people have lost their lives in the conflict, according to UN-verified figures. The ceasefire has allowed for limited prisoner exchanges, with another round planned for January 25. Nevertheless, tensions continue to run high throughout the region.
