Israel says it killed Palestinian attackers as Jenin raid continues

Israel says it has killed two armed males, suspected of finishing up a taking pictures assault that killed three Israelis within the occupied West Financial institution earlier this month.

Qutaiba Shalabi and Mohammed Nazzal have been killed after a fierce gun battle with Israeli forces on Wednesday night time in Burqin, close to the northern West Financial institution metropolis of Jenin.

The Palestinian well being ministry says their our bodies have been taken by Israeli forces and the home they have been in demolished.

Hamas put out a press release claiming them as its fighters.

Israel has been finishing up a significant army operation in and round Jenin since Tuesday.

Military automobiles are controlling the entry of medical employees and ambulances to the principle hospital, and have blocked entry to Jenin refugee camp – dwelling to each civilians and armed Palestinian teams.

Twelve Palestinians are reported to have been killed within the operation, together with Shalabi and Nazzal, and dozens injured.

Israel says it goals to destroy the armed teams right here – backed by Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad – and cease them finishing up assaults towards Israeli targets.

It’s anxious concerning the West Financial institution changing into the subsequent focus for Iranian affect and arms.

However a present of drive right here after the ceasefire in Gaza additionally performs nicely with these in Israel who not solely need to proceed the struggle there, however need to annex the West Financial institution as nicely.

A few of these killed in Jenin are understood to be civilians.

Ahmed al-Shayeb owned a cell phone store – a widely known businessman, not a fighter, locals mentioned.

He was shot useless by Israeli forces as he drove down a street close to Jenin’s refugee camp, together with his 10-year-old son Taym within the automobile.

“They began taking pictures, and a bullet hit him,” Taym informed reporters at his father’s funeral on Wednesday.

“He mentioned ‘God, God,’ then the automobile hit the pavement. I noticed two military automobiles coming towards us. They began to shoot in direction of the automobile, however I jumped out and ran away.”

Israel’s military says the incident is underneath evaluate.

The roads into Jenin camp – a few of them torn up by army bulldozers – are guarded by small teams of troopers, who raised their weapons after we approached.

Fierce preventing was reported contained in the camp on Tuesday night time, and on Wednesday many residents have been attempting to depart.

One man informed us residents have been being separated by the military into teams of 5, earlier than being checked by a drone, and both arrested or allowed to depart.

We noticed a small group of adults and kids choosing their well beyond the troopers, over damaged earth and concrete, one man lifting his toddler son excessive above his head.

He informed us army bulldozers had reached the center of the camp, and that he was anxious the operation there was about to start out in earnest.

“There are nonetheless lots of people contained in the camp – the aged, sick, and children,” he mentioned. “They can not depart. God assist them.”

He mentioned this raid felt completely different to the various others Israel has carried out since Hamas’s 7 October 2023 assault on Israel, which triggered the struggle in Gaza.

“It is completely different this time – they’re hanging in all places. It is like Gaza,” he mentioned.

Subsequent to him, 52-year-old Kefah Sehwal mentioned she had misplaced 15 members of her household since then.

“After what occurred to [Israeli forces] in Gaza, the response is right here,” she informed me. “They’re taking it out on us.”

Israel’s Defence Minister, Israel Katz, has talked a couple of “shift in technique” for this operation, saying the lesson from Gaza isn’t just to “get rid of terrorists”, as he put it, however to cease them coming again.

That plan did not work in Gaza. It is not clear it’s going to work in Jenin.