Israeli forces launched airstrikes on the Jenin refugee camp in the occupied West Bank as part of their intensified bombing campaign on Gaza, with a planned ground invasion on the horizon. The airstrike specifically targeted the Al-Ansar mosque, which was associated with the Jenin Brigade, an "underground terrorist group" according to Israel.
Israeli sources have confirmed that the Jenin Brigade members associated with the mosque were "neutralized," but no specific details about the casualties or their identities were provided. According to Mahmoud Al-Saadi, the director of the Red Crescent in Jenin, one person was martyred in the strike, and three others sustained injuries.
Since October 7, a series of violent incidents have unfolded in the West Bank, with Israeli troops and settlers involved. These events were triggered when Hamas fighters crossed into Israel, resulting in the loss of many lives, the majority of whom were civilians, as reported by Israeli sources.
In retaliation, Israel has launched a heavy bombardment campaign in the Gaza Strip, resulting in the loss of over 4,000 Palestinian lives, primarily civilians, including more than 1,000 children, according to the Gaza health ministry.
The recent airstrike on the Jenin mosque took local residents by surprise, with the possibility of further strikes looming. An eyewitness reported the presence of an Israeli F-fighter jet in the sky, which was later confirmed by the Israeli army as part of the airstrike.
Notably, the Al-Ansar mosque had been a site of conflict previously when it was under a two-day Israeli siege in July. During that operation, Israeli forces discovered a network of tunnels and seized equipment, drones, and ammunition.
Following the recent attack, residents received text messages on their phones, warning them against collaborating with the Jenin Brigade, one of the largest and most popular groups in the West Bank. The messages also advised keeping children indoors.
There are also unconfirmed reports of an Israeli officer contacting residents and instructing them to turn in their "youngsters" to the police by 7 am.
The situation in the region remains highly volatile, and international concerns are mounting as the conflict escalates.
