The first families have started to leave the Jenin camp, which has been sealed off for nearly four days due to an Israeli military operation.
Fierce clashes erupted inside the camp, particularly in the central Damaj neighborhood, an area known for armed group activity, as well as near the camp’s entrances.
Amid the chaos, several women and children emerged past Israeli military vehicles under the watchful eyes of drones, appearing vulnerable on a deserted road surrounded by military trucks.
One resident, Oruba Shalabi, visibly shaken as she cradled her two-month-old daughter, recounted the harrowing experiences endured within the camp.
“They were firing at us and throwing hand grenades at homes,” she described. “Half our home was destroyed. We hid in the kitchen and shouted to indicate we had a baby.”
Oruba further detailed attempting to reason with troops, explaining the distress of children struggling to breathe due to smoke. “They told us we had two minutes to exit,” she recalled. “They scrutinized our phones and IDs, made us stand in the sun for half an hour, then instructed us to proceed straight.”
Oruba finally left the camp on foot with her family, marking the first time they ventured outside since Tuesday night.
“There was no electricity or water,” she recounted. “They shot at anyone approaching the windows. All our neighbors were rounded up into one room. The young men were forced to sit on the floor with their hands tied.”
The intensity of the conflict surged on Saturday, with the Palestinian Red Crescent reporting at least two bodies inside the camp that could not be retrieved. The Palestinian health ministry confirmed one as that of an elderly man.
Unconfirmed reports have indicated possible Israeli army casualties, with the al-Aqsa Martyr’s Brigade claiming their fighters ambushed soldiers in the Damaj neighborhood.
This week’s operations by Israel commenced with incursions into various cities and refugee camps in northern areas of the occupied West Bank. In recent days, the focus has shifted largely to Jenin, as troops withdrew from Tulkarem and Tubas.
Early Friday, the Israeli army announced the elimination of the alleged head of Hamas in Jenin, Wissam Khazem, along with two other suspects linked to shooting attacks.
Ongoing operations continue within the camp, with reports of Israeli forces conducting house-to-house searches for additional wanted individuals.
Israel claims to have killed 20 armed militants during the operation and confiscated various weapons, including M16 rifles and explosives.
The Palestinian health ministry in Ramallah reports a total of 20 deaths across the West Bank, including children, as documented by the head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees.
Among the deceased is an elderly man whose body was reportedly discovered with nine bullet wounds.
Israel has characterized its operation as a counter-terrorism effort to dismantle armed Palestinian factions believed to receive Iranian support.
An attempted bombing in Tel Aviv earlier this month has raised concerns in Israel regarding a resurgence of suicide attacks in urban areas.
Additionally, overnight reports indicated two attempted attacks on settlements in the southern West Bank. The Israeli army’s chief of staff stated that the ongoing operation in Jenin aims to thwart such threats.
Worsening tensions over the Gaza War and recurrent military actions in the West Bank may drastically alter strategies and sentiments on both sides, potentially spiraling the conflict into a more perilous phase.
