Clashes between Israeli troops and Palestinian fighters erupted in the West Bank city of Jenin on Saturday as the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) continued their military operation in the area. The ongoing operation, which began earlier in the week, has primarily focused on Jenin, following raids in Tulkarem and the Far’a refugee camp near Tubas.
During the intense fighting, an Israeli soldier, Staff Sgt. Elkana Navon, 20, was killed, and three other soldiers were wounded. Navon, a squad commander in the IDF’s 906th Battalion, was fatally shot during an exchange of fire with two Hamas gunmen, who were subsequently killed by Israeli forces. One of the injured soldiers, an officer, is reported to be in serious condition.
The IDF’s operation in Jenin has involved neutralizing dozens of explosive devices reportedly planted along roads and dismantling what they describe as “terror infrastructure” within the refugee camp. IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi visited the area to assess the situation, accompanied by other senior military leaders.
The Palestinian side has described the conditions in Jenin as dire, with residents reporting widespread destruction and a severe lack of basic services, including water, electricity, and sewage systems. Jenin Governor Kamal Abu al-Rub accused Israeli forces of besieging hospitals and cutting off the city from the refugee camp, though the IDF has denied these claims, stating that their forces are positioned to prevent militants from using hospitals as gathering points.
So far, the IDF claims to have killed at least 26 gunmen and detained 30 wanted Palestinians in the broader operation. Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad have acknowledged that 13 of those killed were their members.
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