Israeli Forces Withdraw from Jenin; Netanyahu: We Are Completing Our Mission

Israeli forces began their withdrawal from the Palestinian city of Jenin on Tuesday, July 2, after conducting one of their largest military operations in the West Bank in recent years. Reuters reported, citing two witnesses, that convoys of Israeli military vehicles were seen leaving Jenin, indicating the end of Israel's operation in the city. This operation, according to the Israeli army, aimed to destroy the infrastructure and weapons of militants in the Jenin refugee camp and began with a drone strike on Monday, July 1, deploying over 1,000 soldiers in the area. Palestinian officials reported at least 12 deaths. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu commented on the operation, stating, "We are currently completing our mission, and I can say that our extensive activity in Jenin is not a one-time operation." This densely populated refugee camp, housing about 14,000 people, has been a focal point of violence that has engulfed the West Bank for over a year, raising increasing international concern. Gunfire and sporadic explosions were heard in Jenin and near the refugee camp, where fighters from militant groups including Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and Fatah have fortified their positions with a range of roadblocks and observation posts to counter regular Israeli attacks. The army reported that Israeli forces discovered several underground explosive storage sites, one of which was hidden in a tunnel beneath a mosque. They also seized "1,000 weapons" and arrested "30 suspects." Late on Monday, the Palestinian Red Crescent announced that 500 families, approximately 3,000 people, had been evacuated from the camp. UN agencies also expressed concern over the scale of the operation. According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, around 100 people were injured in the clashes, with the condition of 20 reported as critical. The Islamic Jihad branch identified four of the deceased as its members, while Hamas, another Islamist group, identified a fifth as one of its members. The status of the remaining deceased is unknown, although Israeli officials stated, "As far as we know, no civilians have been killed." The European Union warned of a cycle of "escalating violence" in Israel and Palestinian territories. A Palestinian driver injured eight pedestrians in Tel Aviv. Israel stated that Jenin had become a "paradise for terrorists" and that they would change the equation.