Israel launches heavy attack on Jenin
The Israeli military launched a major attack on the northern West Bank city of Jenin as it bombed and stormed the area on January 21st, the Middle East Eye reports.
The Israeli offensive has so far resulted in the deaths of at least seven Palestinians and wounded 35 others, according to the Palestinian health ministry.
Palestinian Authority (PA) security forces withdrew from Jenin as the Israeli offensive began. The PA attacked the city in early December, where it killed at least eight Palestinian residents.
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A resident of Jenin, Asaad Salim, told the Middle East Eye that the Israeli attack began with special forces intruding upon the Jabriyat neighbourhood.
Salim said,“There are bodies in the streets, and many people are injured, but no one can reach them. Ambulances can’t move due to the intense and sudden assault.”
The assault by Israeli forces on Jenin, continued with Israeli warplanes fired heavy guns towards the city and the refugee camp nearby. The Israeli warplanes also bombed a vehicle outside Jenin’s refugee camp, killing the driver.
The ground assault is expected to last several days with armed clashes between Palestinian resistance fighters and Israeli forces erupting.
The most significant armed resistance group in the city, the Jenin Brigades, said its fighters were confronting the “invading occupation forces” and were actively engaging the forces with gunfire.
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Israeli forces are besieging al-Amal Hospital and Jenin Governmental Hospital, according to reporters on the ground.
A reporter said that “the situation is extremely dire, and it seems that this will be the fiercest escalation we’ve seen so far.”
Ambulance driver Hazem Masarwa told Middle East Eye that medical teams have not been able to get to those who are wounded.
Amongst the wounded was a doctor and a paramedic who work at Jenin’s al-Amal Hospital.
Ambulance driver Masarwa added: “There was also an injury to a nurse behind al-Amal Hospital, and despite repeated efforts, no one has been able to reach him.” According to Masarwa, the Israeli army obstructed ambulance access to several neighbourhoods. He said the army targeted the ambulances with gunfire as they attempted to reach the wounded.
“It’s very likely there are other casualties we’re unaware of, given the widespread violence and the inability to move freely within the city,” Masarwa said.
Middle East Eye
