Israeli Drone Strike | Israel carries out drone strike on militant stronghold in West Bank, killing eight Palestinians

Photo: AJEnglish/Twitter JERUSALEM: The Israeli army carried out massive drone strikes and deployed hundreds of troops to the militant stronghold in the West Bank on Monday morning. According to local health officials, at least eight Palestinians were killed in these attacks. The attacks are reminiscent of large-scale military attacks during the second Palestinian uprising two decades ago. Palestinian health officials said at least eight Palestinians were killed and dozens more wounded. Israeli troops entered the Jenin refugee camp on Monday morning, launching the largest operation in the area in over a year. The attack comes amid growing pressure on the country’s government to respond to a series of attacks on Israeli settlements. Last week, four people were killed in attacks on Israeli settlements. Black smoke billowed from the crowded streets of the camp. Along with this, sounds of firing and drone flying were also heard. Local residents said lights went out in some areas and an army bulldozer was seen moving through the narrow streets. Palestine and neighboring Jordan have condemned the violence. Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Galant said the operation was progressing according to plan and Israel had hit hard at local militant groups. The operation began at 1:00 a.m. with an airstrike on a building being used by the insurgents to plan attacks, said Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, an army spokesman. He said the objective of the operation was to destroy the hideout and seize weapons. According to Lieutenant Colonel Hecht, about 2,000 soldiers are participating in the operation. Leanne Hastings, the UN humanitarian coordinator in the Palestinian territories, said on Twitter that she was concerned about the level of Israeli forces conducting the operation. He said airstrikes have been carried out on the densely populated refugee camp and the United Nations is trying to mobilize humanitarian aid. According to Palestine’s official Wafa news agency, the army blocked roads inside the camp, occupied houses and buildings and posted “snipers” on rooftops. At least eight Palestinians were killed on Monday and more than 50 were injured, 10 of them in critical condition, the Palestinian health ministry said. In a separate incident, a 21-year-old Palestinian was killed by Israeli fire near the West Bank city of Ramallah, according to the ministry. “The Palestinian people will not bow down, will not surrender and will stand firm on their land against this brutal invasion,” Palestinian presidential spokesman Nabil Abu Rudinah said in a statement. Jordan calls on Israel to stop attacks in the West Bank. Israel’s Foreign Minister Ali Cohen praised the army’s efforts in an address to foreign journalists and blamed arch-rival Iran for the violence funded by Palestinian extremist groups. Significantly, Israel captured the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip in the 1967 West Asia War. The Palestinians demand a separate state for themselves and want to get these territories back. (agency)