The Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that several people were arrested in a raid in the east of the city, which is considered a stronghold of militant Palestinians. According to the agency, Israeli soldiers prevented employees of the Palestinian civil defense from bringing water to a clinic. The water is needed for dialysis, among other things. The head of the hospital in question warned that the service for kidney patients would have to be stopped if water was not allowed to be delivered.
Important water pipes damaged
According to Wafa, important water pipes supplying the clinic have been damaged by the military operation. Several parts of Jenin are cut off from water. There are also reportedly power outages in some places.
The information could not initially be independently verified. When asked, Israel’s military said it was investigating the reports.
Israel began a military operation around Jenin, Tulkarem and Tubas on Wednesday. An Israeli army spokesman justified the action with the significantly increased number of attacks on Israelis. The aim is to take action against terror cells of the Islamist Hamas and Islamic Jihad. At the same time, the violence of extremist Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank has also increased.
Situation in the West Bank has worsened significantly
According to the Israeli army, 20 Palestinian militants have been killed in exchanges of fire and air strikes since the large-scale operation began. Dozens of explosive devices have been destroyed and numerous weapons confiscated.
The situation in the West Bank has worsened significantly since the start of the Gaza war following the Hamas massacre on October 7, 2023. Since then, more than 640 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli military operations, confrontations or its own attacks in the West Bank, according to the Ministry of Health.