Israel’s army attack on West Bank: On Sunday, Israel’s forces carried out further operations in Jenin, a West Bank district where gunmen have carried out a string of recent deadly strikes. The Israeli army stated that “troops are presently working in the city of Jenin.”
Israel’s military operation began after a shooter in his twenties from Jenin opened fire in a packed Tel Aviv pub on Thursday evening, killing three Israelis and wounding several more. In recent days, 14 people have been killed in attacks, marking one of the bloodiest spurts of violence against Israelis in years.
According to the AFP news agency, at least 10 Palestinians, including assailants, have been murdered in the same time period. Following the incident on Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett claimed he has given security services “all freedom” to put an end to the bloodshed. “This conflict is not and will not be confined,” Bennett stated.
Israel’s army warned insurgents
In a video published by the military, army chief Aviv Kochavi urged soldiers, “We will do whatever it takes, whatever it takes, for however long and wherever it takes, until both safety and a sense of security are restored.”
In the midst of the hostilities, a West Bank shrine was vandalized.
Palestinian militants perceive Jenin to be a stronghold. When operating there, Israeli forces are frequently attacked. The Palestinian Authority, which administers sections of the occupied West Bank and coordinates security with Israel, appears to have limited control over the region as well. The Israeli military also claimed that Palestinians set fire to a Jewish shrine in the West Bank on Sunday. Joseph’s Tomb is a Jewish pilgrimage site in the West Bank city of Nablus.
Defense Minister Benny Gantz tweeted, “The damage to Joseph’s Tomb is a tragic occurrence and a serious breach of freedom of worship at one of the holiest places for every Jew.” The photographs startled Prime Minister Bennett, who stated that Israel would find the offenders.