TL;DR: A 2-year-old Palestinian girl was tragically killed during an Israeli military raid in Jenin. Following this, Israel expanded its "Iron Wall" operation to Tulkarm, leading to further violence and displacement. The ongoing conflict has resulted in significant civilian casualties and widespread destruction in the West Bank.
In a deeply saddening incident, 2-year-old Laila Mohammad Ayman Khatib was fatally shot by Israeli forces during a raid near Jenin. The toddler was in her living room, having dinner with her family, when sudden gunfire erupted, striking her in the head. She was rushed to the hospital but, tragically, did not survive.
This heartbreaking event has intensified tensions in the West Bank. Just days after this tragedy, Israeli forces expanded their "Iron Wall" operation to the city of Tulkarm, located southwest of Jenin. The operation involved storming various neighborhoods, patrolling main streets, and stationing troops in front of hospitals. Medical crews were subjected to searches and interrogations, further escalating the situation.
The expansion of the operation led to heavy clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinian resistance fighters in Tulkarm. Drone strikes were reported, resulting in the deaths of two young men near the Nur Shams refugee camp. The victims were identified as Ramzi Bassam Dumeiri, 24, and Ihab Mohammed Etewy, 23.
The ongoing "Iron Wall" operation has had devastating effects on the civilian population. In Jenin, around 15,000 people were forced to flee their homes due to the violence. Between 30 to 40 homes were completely destroyed, with hundreds more partially damaged. In Tulkarm, dozens of families were displaced at gunpoint, and significant destruction of infrastructure, including water, electricity, and sewage networks, was reported.
Despite a ceasefire taking effect in Gaza on January 19, the violence in the West Bank has continued unabated. The recent operations have raised the death toll of Palestinians in the West Bank to 884, with 7,370 others wounded and at least 14,400 detained since October 7, 2023.
The international community has expressed deep concern over the escalating violence and the tragic loss of innocent lives. There are growing calls for restraint and for both parties to seek peaceful resolutions to prevent further suffering.
