Two Palestinians killed as Israeli assault on Jenin escalates
The Governor of Jenin, Kamal Abu al-Rob, confirmed late Wednesday that two Palestinian men were killed by Israeli occupation forces in Kafr Dan, a town west of Jenin in the northern West Bank.
The deaths raise the total fatalities in the district to eight as the Israeli military offensive on Jenin city, its refugee camp, and neighboring areas continued for over 48 hours.
According to Abu al-Rob, the two men, whose identities have not yet been disclosed, were targeted in an Israeli airstrike while in their vehicle. Israeli forces later besieged a nearby house in Kafr Dan. The bodies of the deceased remain in Israeli custody.
Earlier in the day, the Palestinian Red Crescent reported another fatality in Kafr Dan: a young man who was shot in the chest during an Israeli incursion succumbed to his injuries despite efforts by paramedics. Another individual was also shot in the chest and hospitalized at Ibn Sina Hospital in Jenin, where his condition was described as stable.
Local sources revealed that Israeli forces set fire to four vehicles in the Wadi Hassan area and also seized an ambulance belonging to the Palestinian Red Crescent, firing near the vehicle.
In Jenin city and its refugee camp, the Israeli offensive caused extensive damage to civilian infrastructure, including water and electricity networks. Four homes and a commercial shop were set ablaze, while emergency responders faced significant obstacles. Palestinian Red Crescent teams attempting to evacuate the injured were detained on multiple occasions, and ambulance crews were reportedly used as human shields by Israeli troops.
Following the withdrawal of Israeli forces from parts of Jenin city and the refugee camp, the destruction left behind remains severe. Civilian infrastructure has been heavily damaged, and many residents have been displaced.
The Israeli military has not commented on the incidents, including the detention of the two bodies and the targeting of civilian areas. The situation in Jenin continues to draw international attention as calls for accountability grow amid the ongoing violence. (ILKHA)