A series of huge explosions have rocked the city of Jenin in the occupied West Bank, as Israel continues military operations it says are targeting “terrorist infrastructure”.
Videos and pictures from the area showed a number of explosions sending plumes of dark smoke into the air.
The simultaneous explosions levelled around 20 buildings in the Jenin refugee camp, the Palestinian state news agency said, with Jenin hospital director Wisam Baker telling the same agency part of the hospital was damaged in the explosions but there had been no casualties there.
Israel said on Sunday it had “dismantled 23 structures”.
It comes after Israel has stepped up its efforts in the West Bank in recent weeks, since the ceasefire in Gaza came into effect.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is heading to America to meet with President Donald Trump.
Jordan’s King Abdullah will also meet with Mr Trump on 11 February, after the US leader said he wanted Egypt and Jordan to take in Palestinians from Gaza.
In Gaza, the hostage and prisoner exchanges continued on Saturday as the ceasefire holds.
Israel in the West Bank
On 21 January, two days after the ceasefire in Gaza came into effect, Israel began raiding Jenin in the northern West Bank.
Around three million Palestinians live in the occupied West Bank, where Israel maintains overall military control.
Hundreds of Israeli soldiers, backed by the air force, have since engaged in battles with Palestinian militants in Jenin as they search for weapons and equipment, Israel says.
It claims to have killed more than 35 people it said were “terrorists”, but Palestinian officials say at least 25 Palestinians have been killed – including nine members of armed groups, an elderly man and a two-year-old girl.
Israel claimed the buildings had been used by Palestinian militants. Pic: AP/Majdi Mohammed
Pic: AP/Majdi Mohammed
Pic: AP/Majdi Mohammed
On Sunday, a 73-year-old man was shot dead by Israeli troops in Jenin.
There was no immediate comment from the military.
The day before, a 16-year-old boy was among five killed by Israeli strikes on Jenin, the Palestinian health ministry said.
Israel said its air force had struck “armed terrorists”.
Dozens of homes have been demolished in Jenin and roads in the refugee camps have been dug up by Israel, driving thousands from their homes.
Water has been cut and Palestinian officials say at least 80% of the refugee camp’s inhabitants have been forced to leave their homes.
Israel has claimed that Iran smuggles weapons into the West Bank and its military is acting against the “Iranian axis”.
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Alongside near-daily military arrest raids in the West Bank, there has also been a rise in settler violence.
Defence minister Israel Katz said on Wednesday Israel would remain in Jenin until its military operation was complete, without saying when that would be.
