An Israeli bulldozer seen on the street during a military operation in Jenin refugee camp, Jan. 25, 2025. (Photo: Nasser Ishtayeh/SOPA Images via Reuters)
Over the weekend, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) continued anti-terror raids in Jenin as part of a larger security operation called Operation Iron Wall.
The Jenin operation started last Tuesday and was launched to destroy the so-called Jenin Battalion, a newer group made up of operatives from several terror groups including Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
Operation Iron Wall is the third major IDF operation in Jenin in less than two years. The city has long been a major stronghold of terror groups operating in the territories of Judea and Samaria, dating back to the First Intifada.
The raid began shortly after Palestinian Authority (PA) security forces withdrew from the Jenin refugee camp after having conducted their own weeks-long operation aimed at reasserting control over the area from Hamas-aligned terror groups.
According to reports in Hebrew media, the PA security forces continued to maintain a presence in the city of Jenin and helped to detain several terrorists attempting to flee from Israeli security forces.
At least 10 terrorists were killed in the recent operation, with another 20 suspects detained by security forces, who also reported confiscating weapons and destroying an explosives laboratory.
On Friday, the military announced that, as part of Operation Iron Wall, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) targeted a vehicle carrying a terrorist cell in the Qabatiya area, killing two militants.
According to Palestinian reports, one of the terrorists killed was Muhammad Zakarana, a teenage boy, who was part of a terror group.
The Palestinian Authority-owned Wafa news, reported that Israeli forces also laid siege to a house in Qabatiya, apparently in connection with the airstrike.
Wafa also reported the death of a 2-year-old Palestinian girl during the siege of a house in Muthalath Ash-Shuhada village, south of Jenin on Saturday. After identifying wanted suspects in the building, the Israeli forces surrounded the area and ordered the suspects to exit the building.
When no one followed the instructions, soldiers opened fire on the building, and the child was hit during the shooting. After identifying the presence of injured civilians, the IDF ordered a Palestinian ambulance to the scene, and the girl was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment but soon succumbed to her injuries.
Three Egoz commando unit soldiers were reported to have been injured during continued operations in Jenin on Saturday, with one soldier listed as seriously injured, while the other two were listed as lightly wounded in the same incident.
With the IDF’s operations in Gaza halted due to the hostage release ceasefire deal, the Israeli security sector has turned its focus to the Palestinian Territories in Judea and Samaria.
Shin Bet head Ronen Bar recently said that defensive actions in the territories would not be enough to defeat terrorism there.
During a situational assessment in Jenin with IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Herzi Halevi on Wednesday, Bar said, “You can’t defeat terrorism through defense alone.”
Recognizing the broader multi-front conflict facing Israel, Bar said the current operational pauses in Gaza and Lebanon meant a renewed focus on terror in the Palestinian Territories.
“We are in a multi-front campaign – but right now, it’s Samaria’s time,” Bar stated.
“We need to be prepared to continue in the Jenin camp, which will bring it to a different place – we are denying the enemy opportunities to harm our forces.”
