Israel intensifies offensive in Jenin: militant targets hit, Hamas calls for mobilisation

Operation ‘Iron Wall’ in northern West Bank: Netanyahu and Minister Katz reiterate goal of eradicating terrorism

Israel has launched a major military operation in the West Bank city of Jenin, described as a strategic move to counter the expansion of terrorism in the region. Dubbed the ‘Iron Wall’, the joint action by the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) and the Shin Bet is aimed at eliminating militants and destroying terrorist infrastructure, with the stated goal of ensuring greater security in Judea and Samaria.

The context of the operation

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz emphasised that this operation reflects a ‘key lesson’ learned from the raids in the Gaza Strip: preventing the formation of new terrorist strongholds. ‘We will not allow Iranian weapons or radical Sunni Islam to threaten settlers or create a new terror front in the east of Israel,’ Katz said in a statement reported by Ha’aretz.

During the operation, the IDF hit over ten militant targets through air strikes and ground operations, neutralising several explosive devices. The Palestinian Health Ministry reported at least nine deaths, plus a tenth in a nearby village.

Netanyahu’s statements and Hamas reactions

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the operation a key step in ensuring security in the region, specifying that the action was part of a broader plan against Iranian influence: ‘We act resolutely against the Iranian axis, whether in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen or Judea and Samaria’.

Hamas reacted with a call for general mobilisation in the West Bank, calling on the Palestinian population to intensify clashes with Israeli forces to counter ‘the extensive Zionist aggression against Jenin’.

Possible international developments

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump announced that he is considering a visit to the Middle East, emphasising his role in the return of American hostages. Speaking from the White House, Trump gave credit for these successes to his administration, criticising the actions of his predecessor.

‘The recent deaths of hostages would never have happened under my leadership,’ he said, adding that the current situation reflects previous management mistakes.

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