Militants from the Gaza Strip have fired rockets as Israel withdraws its forces from the Palestinian city of Jenin after a major military operation, Reuters writes.
It is reported that in response to the rocket fire, Israeli fighter jets struck underground weapons factories.
During the Israeli military operation, 12 Palestinians died, at least five of them were fighters, and death of one Israeli soldier is reported. The Israeli army reported that the operation was carried out to destroy the infrastructure and weapons stockpiles of Palestinian militants in the Jenin refugee camp. During this,
more than 1,000 Israeli fighters were deployed in the Palestinian city, and drones were used.
The densely populated refugee camp, with nearly 18,000 residents, is one of the focal points in a wave of violence that has swept over the occupied West Bank for more than a year, raising international concerns.
Hours after the Israeli army began withdrawing its forces, Palestinian militants fired five rockets into Israel from the Gaza Strip. They were intercepted and there were no casualties.
Clashes also took place in Tel Aviv, where there were reports of smashed cars and attacks on people,
for which the Palestinian militant group Hamas claimed responsibility. Eight people were injured.
The organization Doctors Without Borders reported that the Israeli army used tear gas near the hospital where the organization’s representatives operate. The army has informed that it has no information about the activities near the hospital, but admitted that its forces fired shots from the air at the militants hiding in the cemetery.
Palestinian fighters from the military groups Hamas, Islamic Jihad and Fatah have set up barrier strips and observation posts around the refugee camp.
Electricity and water supplies have still not been restored to the camp
after Israeli bulldozers tore up electricity cables and water pipes while clearing the road. A cache of weapons, a secret tunnel under the mosque, around 1,000 weapons seized and 30 detainees are reported to have been found.
The Red Crescent aid organization reported that 500 families – about 3,000 people – were evacuated from the camp.
The US has indicated that it respects Israel’s right to defend itself, but has indicated that it is essential to avoid harming civilians. The European Union is concerned about the escalation of the situation, and the UN has expressed dismay at the scale of the military operation.
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