The northern West Bank city of Jenin, including its refugee camp, has come under an intense Israeli military operation. The latest reports from the Palestinian health ministry reveal a staggering toll: at least eight Palestinians were killed and about 80 injured, with 17 in critical condition.

The Israeli army, early on Monday, unleashed a full-scale military assault on Jenin and the adjacent refugee camp, sparking fear and confusion among residents. Palestinian security sources disclosed to Xinhua that Israeli forces swarmed the city from multiple directions, encircling the camp, taking control of several buildings and residential houses, and positioning snipers atop rooftops.

The locals and security officials are comparing the intensity of the military operation to that of 2002, marking it as the most violent since then. The area witnessed numerous airstrikes that targeted buildings occupied by Palestinian gunmen who were in a heated firefight with Israeli soldiers.

MOHAMMED AKRAM, an ambulance worker in Jenin, gave a chilling account of the situation: "The camp was targeted by both land and air forces, and all residents were indiscriminately bombed. The occupying forces carried out large-scale incursions into the camp, effectively preventing citizens from entering or leaving the camp."

Meanwhile, Israel Radio divulged that more than 1,000 soldiers were mobilized for the operation. An Israeli army spokesperson maintained that the intent wasn't to occupy the Jenin refugee camp, but the operation was designed to target terrorist groups.

STORY: 8 killed, 80 injured in Israeli operation in West Bank
DATELINE: July 4, 2023
LENGTH: 0:01:39
LOCATION: JENIN, Palestine
CATEGORY: POLITICS/MILITARY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of Israeli military operation in the northern West Bank city of Jenin
2. SOUNDBITE (ARABIC): MOHAMMED AKRAM, Ambulance worker in Jenin

STORYLINE:

According to the Palestinian health ministry, the latest Israeli military operation in the northern West Bank city of Jenin has left at least eight Palestinians killed and about 80 injured, including 17 in critical condition.

Earlier on Monday, the Israeli army launched a large-scale military strike on Jenin and the refugee camp.

Palestinian security sources told Xinhua that Israeli forces stormed the city from several axes, surrounded the camp, seized several buildings and residential houses, and deployed snipers on roofs.

Residents and security officials said that the military operation "is the most violent since 2002," with intensive airstrikes targeting buildings where dozens of Palestinian gunmen exchanged fire with the Israeli soldiers.

SOUNDBITE (ARABIC): MOHAMMED AKRAM, Ambulance worker in Jenin
"The camp was targeted by land and air forces, and all residents were randomly bombed. The occupation forces carried out large-scale incursions into the camp and prevented citizens from entering or leaving the camp."

Israel Radio reported that more than 1,000 soldiers joined the operation.

An Israeli army spokesman said the army "does not intend to occupy the Jenin refugee camp, but this is an operation targeting terrorist groups."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Jenin, Palestine.
(XHTV)