Israeli Forces Withdraw from Jenin Amid Ongoing Conflict and Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza

Israeli Forces Withdraw from Jenin Amid Ongoing Conflict

The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) have reportedly completed their withdrawal from the city of Jenin in the occupied West Bank, following a ten-day military operation that involved extensive raids, according to reports from Palestinian media outlets. This operation, which Israeli military officials characterized as a targeted effort against militants in Jenin, Tulkarem, and the Al-Faraa refugee camp, marks one of the largest military campaigns conducted by Israel in the West Bank since the outbreak of war between Israel and Hamas.

As reported by the government-run Palestine News Agency, citing the Palestinian Health Ministry, the assault has tragically resulted in the deaths of at least 21 Palestinians and inflicted significant damage throughout the city of Jenin. The IDF announced via their social media platform, X, that they had executed a counterterrorism operation overnight in the West Bank, during which they killed Muhammad Zakaria Zubeidi. He was the son of prominent militant Zakaria Zubeidi, who heads the Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades, a coalition of Palestinian armed groups operating in the West Bank.

IDF officials justified the military operation, which commenced on August 28, as a necessary measure to mitigate recent attacks against Israeli civilians in the region. Jenin, originally established as a refugee camp for Palestinians fleeing their homes during the war that followed the creation of Israel in 1948, has faced severe disruptions to essential services, including water and electricity, due to the ongoing military actions.

A man navigates a heavily damaged road in Jenin, West Bank, following the Israeli army’s raid on September 4, 2024.

UN Reports Catastrophic Humanitarian Situation in Gaza

The United Nations has issued a stark warning regarding the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, describing the situation as “beyond catastrophic.” In August alone, over one million Palestinians reportedly did not receive any food rations. UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric stated that humanitarian partners were unable to secure sufficient food supplies for the second consecutive month, particularly in central and southern Gaza. Consequently, they will only be able to distribute one food parcel per family during the September distribution cycle.

Dujarric attributed the critical shortages of food aid to a combination of ongoing hostilities, heightened insecurity, damaged infrastructure, and significant barriers to access. In the West Bank, he noted that the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has documented that “Israeli forces continue to employ lethal, war-like tactics, including airstrikes, in Jenin, Tubas, and Tulkarm.”

He added that these military actions have led to further fatalities and injuries, along with additional destruction to roads and essential infrastructure. “Medical facilities have been virtually besieged for over a week now, with heavy restrictions imposed on the movement of ambulances and medical staff,” Dujarric warned, highlighting the urgent need for humanitarian assistance in the region.