At least 12 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli army’s invasion of the town of Jenin in the occupied West Bank. International media report this on Tuesday based on Palestinian authorities. Dozens of people were injured and thousands fled the refugee camp in the city.
Israeli soldiers are withdrawing from the camp after almost two days, write Reuters news agency and the Israeli newspaper, among others. Haaretz. The raid, targeting violent Palestinian resistance groups in the camp, is the largest in years.
“At this point, we are completing the mission,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, according to Reuters, when visiting a checkpoint outside Jenin. “And I can say that our extensive operation in Jenin is not a one-off.”
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Critical reactions to the raid have come from the international community. UN Human Rights Commissioner Volker Türk says in a declaration that the attack “raises a series of serious questions regarding human rights”. He calls the use of airstrikes by Israel “in violation of rules when it comes to law enforcement”.
The German Foreign Ministry said according to Al Jazeera that while Israel has the right “to protect itself against terror”, it must also pay attention to “proportionality” in doing so.
Al Jazeera also shares images of alleged Israeli soldiers shooting at an Al Araby TV camera. “Shocking,” responds Reporters Without Borders. “But again not so shocking because unfortunately we have become accustomed to images and stories of Israeli troops targeting journalists.”
Read also Israel has never been able to break the spirit of resistance in Jenin