‘Resistance has crossed the borders of Jenin and Nablus’

The Israeli army raid on the Jenin Refugee Camp, in which 10 Palestinians were killed, and two attacks on Israelis in occupied East Jerusalem immediately afterwards have raised tensions in the region. Palestinians blame Israeli government’s policies for the escalating violence.

Even before Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition government with far-right parties has completed its first month in power, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem has intensified again. On the morning of Thursday, January 26, the Israeli military, and other security units conducted a large-scale raid in the Jenin Refugee Camp in the northern West Bank, claiming that “Islamic Jihad militants preparing for an attack were hiding in a house.” In the raid, 10 Palestinians, including an elderly woman and a child, were killed and about 20 wounded. The raid in Jenin was described by Israeli media and residents as “the bloodiest and most violent raid” of the past 15 years. Following the raid in Jenin, clashes broke out across the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Another Palestinian was killed in a fire opened by the Israeli army.

With the recent escalating wave of violence, 35 Palestinians, including women and children, have been killed since the beginning of the year as a result of Israeli security forces or Jewish settlers’ gunfire. These data show that after the United Nations described 2022 as the “bloodiest period of the last 16 years” in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, the deaths in the region did not slow down this year either.

Khaled al-Yamani, one of the leaders of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine in Lebanon, says that the main objective of these bloody Israeli attacks is to suppress the resistance groups and prevent their spread: “The previous Israeli government’s ‘Breakwater’ operation was aimed at suppressing the resistance groups, particularly ‘Arin al-Usud’ in Nablus and the Jenin Brigade. However, despite the crimes committed by the Israeli army, such as the assassination of the resistance leaders, they failed.”

Khaled Yamani

Two separate attacks in 24 hours

On the other hand, two attacks against Israelis took place within 24 hours in occupied East Jerusalem following the Israeli army’s Jenin raid. On the evening of January 27, a Palestinian teenager carried out an armed attack on an illegal Jewish settlement, killing 7 Israelis. Israeli police say they killed the attacker after a car chase. Less than 24 hours after the attack, a 13-year-old Palestinian shot and wounded two Israelis in Silwan neighborhood near the Old City of East Jerusalem. One of the Israelis, whom the Palestinian child shot at, wounded the boy with an automatic weapon and neutralized him. After the attacks on the Israelis, Jewish settler violence erupted in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem. There were dozens of incidents on Saturday and Sunday evenings where Jewish settlers attacked Palestinians, threw stones at their homes and vehicles, and set them on fire.

‘Resistance groups carried out 1,922 operations.’

Yamani believes that the Palestinian counter-“actions” are not surprising given the existence of the racist and extremist Israeli government that commits all kinds of crimes against the Palestinian people, and the display of strength by Israeli army leaders who try to show their courage over the Palestinian people: “The rise of resistance in the West Bank is a result of the policies of the Israeli government. This is due to the intensification of military operations and the resumption of assassinations of resistance fighters in the West Bank.”

According to Yamani, despite all the measures taken by the occupation forces, the Palestinian resistance has spread to all major cities in the West Bank: “The strength and military capabilities of the resistance groups have increased further. These groups, which were initially established with a defensive focus, have now shifted their position to offense. They have reached the capacity to conduct operations against Israeli military outposts, checkpoints, and settlers. In 2022, more than 1,922 operations were carried out against the occupation, resulting in the deaths of 29 Israeli soldiers and settlers and 121 wounded.

Netanyahu’s steps to escalate tensions

Following the attacks on Israelis, the Israeli government, which includes far-right extremists known for their “hawkish” policies against Palestinians and support for fanatical Jewish settlers, has begun to take steps to further escalate tensions. The Israeli parliament has approved a bill that would deport and denaturalize “people arrested for national security offences” if they were found to be receiving money from the Palestinian Authority. The bill, which was approved by a majority of votes, was sent to the Joint Committee on Internal Affairs and the House Committee for review and preparation for the second and third round of voting. The bill provides for the revoke of citizenship or permanent residency of Palestinians in East Jerusalem for persons imprisoned for “committing an offense that violates trust in the State of Israel” if it is proven that they received funds from the Palestinian Authority. It also includes their subsequent deportation to Palestinian-controlled territories or the Gaza Strip. On the other hand, Netanyahu announced he would take steps to facilitate the arming of thousands of Israelis.

“Your blood is no more valuable”

Khaled al-Yamani believes that the activities of Palestinian resistance groups, especially in Jenin and Nablus, have shaken Israeli officials: “Despite all the security and military measures taken by the previous Israeli government, including ‘Breakwater’ operations aimed at blocking resistance and suppressing armed groups, it failed to break the resistance. The resistance has grown in all the cities and refugee camps in the West Bank, and armed resistance is no longer limited to Jenin and Nablus alone.”

Yamani says that all Palestinians agree that the only way to confront the “enemy” occupation policies is through resistance: “The more intense the resistance, the more difficult it is for the enemy army and settlers to commit crimes. The higher the price the enemy has to pay, the more likely they are to retreat. The recent operation in Nabu Yaqub in Jerusalem shows that the people of the West Bank remain committed to the culture of resistance. This operation sent a strong message to the enemy: “Your blood is no more valuable than the blood of our people.”