Israel’s Jenin operation could have achieved its goals – however it can have additionally deepened hatred
There’s just one highway into Jenin – the checkpoint to the north is closed as Israel’s army operations proceed into its second day and non permanent military posts maintain up the site visitors a number of miles out as troopers test each automotive stepping into.
Driving into town is an impediment course round burning tyres, garbage tipped onto the highway and skips set alight.
Ambulances always rush out and in of town, pink flashing lights and sirens wailing.
Residents of the Jenin refugee camp flee their houses. Pic: AP
Columns of heavily-armoured Israeli troop carriers cross us each couple of minutes, the troopers invisible inside however for small holes and the barrel of weapons stating.
There is the occasional thump of an explosion or crackle of gunfire, and a relentless hum of drones excessive overhead, which is difficult to make out in opposition to the brilliant July solar.
It was a drone strike that began this operation, within the early hours of Monday morning, and their presence within the sky is as a lot a deterrence as it’s a weapon.
Smoke is seen from Israel’s aspect throughout a raid on the Jenin camp
The outlets are all shut – there’s a common strike within the West Bank – and few persons are out and about.
We noticed only a few girls or youngsters, with residents instructed to remain indoors. It’s primarily younger males on the streets now, vowing to combat the Israelis till they go away.
Palestinians protest in opposition to the Israeli military raid in Jenin
“We still don’t know where many people are,” one man tells me. “We think they could have been buried under the rubble of the drone strikes.”
“We will fight them until our last breath.”
Gunshots heard in West Bank metropolis of Jenin
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Israeli officers say they’ve nearly achieved their goals and there may be hypothesis it may very well be wrapped up ahead of initially thought.
Once it is over, they are going to have seized weapons, destroyed command centres and gathered plenty of helpful intelligence.
But they can even have deepened the hatred and motivated the resistance on this metropolis that has at all times fought again.