Hundreds of troops entered cities in the occupied territory, targeting Palestinian militants. It was a significant escalation after months of raids that have unfolded alongside the war in Gaza.According to The New York Times, Israeli officials have reported that hundreds of Israeli troops launched major overnight raids in the occupied West Bank on Wednesday, targeting Palestinian militants in response to months of rising attacks. The operation, which was concentrated in the cities of Jenin and Tulkarm, is said to be ongoing. A Palestinian armed group based in Jenin claimed to have fired on Israeli forces in two villages on the city’s outskirts, and residents in both cities reported hearing gunfire.

This is the largest operation since July 2023, when 1,000 Israeli soldiers carried out a 48-hour incursion in Jenin that resulted in the deaths of 12 Palestinians, at least nine of whom were claimed to be members of militant groups. The recent raids come after months of escalating Israeli raids in the occupied territory, where nearly three million Palestinians live under Israeli military rule. These raids have resulted in the deaths of at least 628 Palestinians, according to the United Nations, and have failed to quell the armed groups.

The Israeli operation also included drone strikes and an aerial strike in the Far’a neighborhood that killed four militants, according to Israeli authorities. Palestinian officials have reported that the Israeli incursion was unusually fierce, with the sounds of gunfire and explosions intermittently resounding through the city. Israeli officials have imposed a formal curfew on parts of Jenin and surrounded hospitals, entrances, and exits, causing fear and anxiety among the residents.

This raid comes amidst reports from U.S., Israeli, and Iranian officials that Iran is attempting to smuggle weapons into the West Bank. This covert operation, which involves intelligence operatives, militants, and criminal gangs, has raised concerns that Iran is trying to turn the territory into another flashpoint in its ongoing conflict with Israel. Additionally, extremist Israelis have also increased attacks against Palestinian civilians in the West Bank, with many escaping legal accountability for their actions. 

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