Israel launched a large military offensive in the occupied West Bank on Wednesday, attacking at least three cities from land and air.
Israeli air strikes hit Jenin, Tulkarm and Tubas as troops opened fire at Palestinians on the ground.
At least nine Palestinians were killed in the Israel air strikes and from gunfire, according to an initial estimate by the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS).
The assault began just after midnight local time (09:00 PM GMT) after undercover Israeli soldiers entered the Jenin refugee camp and the Nur Shams refugee camp in Tulkarm.
Large Israeli forces then raided the two cities and surrounded hospitals, preventing paramedics from reaching them, according to PRCS
Israeli paratroopers parachuted into Tubas and led the assault there, particularly in the Far’a refugee camp, according to Israeli Channel 14
A siege has been imposed on the three cities - Jenin, Tulkarm and Tubas - in the northern West Bank.
The Israeli military said it was carrying out a large “counter-terror” operation in Jenin and Tulkarm without elaborating further.
According to Israeli media, a military division is involved in the offensive, including ground troops and the air force.
The assault is the largest conducted by the Israeli military since the 2002 “Defensive Shield” attack at the height of the Second Intifada, according to Israeli Kan News public broadcaster.
Palestinian armed groups in the targeted West Bank cities, including the local chapters of Hamas and the Islamic Jihad, said their members were confronting Israeli troops in fire exchanges and using explosive devices
It’s unbelievable that the Democratic party is still supporting this by sending the military weapons. Israel has only ramped up their ethnic cleansing, first with the genocide in Gaza and now with this in the West Bank
They’re really hoping “or else Trump” is enough to get voters to enable genocide.
Obama turned the Democrats from the party of no-war in the Iraq war era to the party of war and genocide.
