Israeli Military Destroys Buildings in Jenin with Simultaneous Explosions
Explosions Rock the West Bank City, Sending Clouds of Smoke into the Sky
JENIN — The Israeli military carried out a series of explosions in the city of Jenin, located in the occupied West Bank, resulting in the destruction of nearly two dozen buildings. The blasts sent massive plumes of smoke into the air, as tensions continue to escalate in the region.
According to a statement from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), 23 buildings in Jenin were demolished, with the military describing them as "terrorist infrastructure." The operation follows a larger pattern of Israeli incursions into the city, which has long been a stronghold of militant groups, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad.
Hamas swiftly responded to the demolition, calling for an “escalation in the resistance” against Israel.
As of Sunday, the number of casualties remains unclear, though the city has been a target of Israeli airstrikes in recent days. In a separate incident on Sunday, the Palestinian Health Ministry reported that a 16-year-old boy was among five individuals killed by Israeli airstrikes on Jenin.
The recent military actions come in the wake of heightened violence in the occupied West Bank since the outbreak of war in Gaza on October 7, 2023, which saw 1,200 Israelis killed and approximately 250 taken hostage in Hamas’ coordinated attacks. In the aftermath, violence from Israeli settlers and military operations has intensified in the West Bank, with 845 Palestinians killed since the war's onset, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
This latest military offensive comes shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump rescinded sanctions on far-right settler groups and individuals accused of violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.
Meanwhile, in Gaza, the IDF reported an Israeli aircraft fired on a vehicle it claimed violated the ceasefire agreement with Hamas by traveling outside an "agreed inspection route."
The attacks occurred as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was en route to the United States for a meeting with Trump, his first since Trump’s inauguration. At the same time, Hamas deputy head Mousa Abu Marzouk is preparing for a visit to Moscow, where he is set to meet with Russian officials.
As the situation in the region continues to deteriorate, international diplomatic efforts are ongoing, with tensions between Israel, Palestine, and various foreign governments reaching new heights.