Israel has launched a new military operation in the West Bank, targeting the Palestinian city of Dschenin, according to a statement by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanjahu on Tuesday. The operation, dubbed “Iron Wall” aims to “eradicate terrorism in the area” according to Netanjahu, who described it as a new step in Israel’s “systematic and resolute” efforts to counter the “Iranian axis wherever it sends its weapons.”
In a separate statement, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that they, along with the Israeli Security Agency (ISA) and the Israeli Border Police, had launched an “anti-terrorism operation” in Dschenin.
Social media and local media outlets have shared images of several Israeli military vehicles moving towards the city. According to reports, the operation began with intense drone strikes in the area. The local health authorities reported that at the start of the Israeli raid, at least eight Palestinians were killed and 35 others wounded.
The new military campaign comes just days after the conclusion of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and the Hamas militant group, which governs the Gaza Strip, in which a prisoner exchange was agreed upon. The ceasefire took effect on Sunday. The hostilities between Israel and Hamas in the Palestinian enclave began after the militant group launched a surprise attack on southern Israel in October 2023, killing around 1,100 people and taking more than 200 as hostages.
The Israeli military operation has caused significant material damage to the Gaza Strip, with the local health authorities reporting more than 46,000 people killed. The hostilities have also sparked a new conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.