Three Palestinians were killed in heavy clashes between gunmen and Israeli troops in the northern West Bank city of Jenin on Monday morning, according to local officials. An Israeli helicopter gunship made rare forays into the city to evacuate wounded soldiers from the war zone.
In a brief joint statement, the Israel Defense Forces and border police said forces entered Jenin to detain two wanted Palestinians.
“During the activity, a major exchange of fire took place between the forces and armed gunmen in the area. A large number of explosive devices were thrown at the security forces. The security forces retaliated.
The Palestinian Authority Health Ministry reported that three people were killed and at least 29 were injured during clashes with Israeli troops in the city. Many were listed as critical and in serious condition.
One of the Palestinians killed was named by media reports as Khalid Azzam Darwish.
A local branch of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorist group claimed that its members detonated explosive devices near IDF vehicles and then targeted them with gunfire.
Press coverage: The moment a captured jeep was detonated by a high explosive device in Jenin. pic.twitter.com/UZCxvUHC4q
– Quds News Network (@qudsn) June 19, 2023
The IDF stated that “as security forces exited the city, a military vehicle was hit by an explosive device, which damaged the vehicle.”
Footage shared by Palestinian media outlets showed roadside bombs exploding next to Israeli army vehicles. Another clip shows IDF vehicles coming under fire. shelling and explosions Other clips shared online could be heard across the city.
Several soldiers were injured in roadside explosions and firing.
Local sources: Part of the clashes with the occupation forces in Jenin, resulting in the injuries of several soldiers. pic.twitter.com/B5aNZP9VYz
– Quds News Network (@qudsn) June 19, 2023
An IDF Apache helicopter launched missiles at the area where the gunmen were identified, the IDF said, so wounded soldiers could be evacuated from the area to Israeli hospitals.
Clips published by Palestinian media show helicopters launching missiles at a target and also deploying flares over the city, apparently out of fear that Palestinians in Jenin may have launched anti-aircraft missiles Is.
Captured planes launched airstrikes #fetus,#Palestine pic.twitter.com/wCfjugObyz
– Quds News Network (@qudsn) June 19, 2023
The footage shows an area close to a building hit multiple times by helicopter missiles, which led to the first airstrikes in the West Bank in years. In the early 2000s, the IDF used attack helicopters more frequently in the West Bank, but only in special circumstances and not regularly.
Occupation Army Radio: The vehicle damaged in the Jenin ambush is strong and was detonated with a very powerful explosive device. pic.twitter.com/EjKxOSec1L
– Quds News Network (@qudsn) June 19, 2023
Tensions between Israel and the Palestinians have risen over the past year, with the army conducting almost nightly raids in the West Bank amid a series of deadly Palestinian terrorist attacks.
Since the beginning of this year, 20 people have been killed and many more seriously injured in Palestinian attacks in Israel and the West Bank.
According to a tally by The Times of Israel, 120 West Bank Palestinians have been killed during that period, most of them during clashes with security forces, but some were unrelated civilians and others were killed under more suspicious circumstances. .
