Israel's Largest West Bank Operation in Two Decades

Israel has launched its largest military operation in the occupied West Bank in over two decades, targeting areas like Jenin, Tulkarem, and Tubas with ground troops, airstrikes, drones, and bulldozers. The operation has resulted in the deaths of at least nine Palestinians, whom Israel claims were armed militants posing a threat. Palestinian officials report higher casualties and accuse Israeli forces of blocking access to hospitals and destroying infrastructure. The operation, aimed at preventing terrorist attacks, has intensified following Hamas' October 7 incursion into southern Israel. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has called for international intervention to stop what he describes as a war on the Palestinian people. The situation remains highly volatile, with fears of further escalation and potential evacuations of Palestinian civilians.