Israel Completes Anti-Terror Operation in West Bank City of Jenin

Latest Developments​

Israel wrapped up a sweep against Palestinian terrorists and their facilities in the environs of the West Bank city of Jenin on September 6. The 10-day operation — dubbed “Operation Summer Camps” — “began with simultaneous raids on Jenin, Tulkarem and the Far’a camp near Tubas, with the goal of dismantling Iran-backed Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror networks in the three areas of the northern West Bank,” The Times of Israel reported. The local leader of Hamas, Wessam Hazem, was among the 14 terrorists killed during the operation, while another 30 terror suspects were apprehended. During the sweep, army bulldozers and engineers dismantled around 30 mines planted under Jenin’s roads and destroyed facilities including a bomb lab and an arms cache hidden under a mosque. 

Expert Analysis​

“The digging is the tip-off: By going underground, whether at the mosque or with the tarmac-covered IEDs, Hamas and Islamic Jihad are signaling that Jenin and other West Bank cities are going the way of the Gaza Strip by becoming terrorist strongholds. If this is allowed to continue, what will follow will be rocket and mortar fire into Israel and the abduction of soldiers and civilians from Israel, all from behind Palestinian civilian cover. Having learned the hard lessons of Gaza, Israel is moving early to prevent a repeat.” — Mark Dubowitz, FDD CEO

“Hamas would likely rule the West Bank if not for Israeli counterterrorism operations, such as the one in Jenin. This underscores the irrelevance of the Palestinian Authority, the supposed governing body of the Palestinians. The lack of Palestinian leadership able and willing to uproot terrorism complicates any Israeli ‘day after’ plan for both Gaza and the West Bank.” — David May, FDD Research Manager and Senior Research Analyst

Israel Intensifies West Bank Operations in Wake of October 7

During intensive operations in the West Bank in August, the IDF successfully eliminated Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) military commanders. Hazem was eliminated in Jenin on August 28, while the following day, the IDF targeted and eliminated PIJ commander Muhammed Jabber in the city of Tulkarem. According to the IDF, the operation involved the Shin Bet intelligence agency, Yamam (National Counter-Terrorism Unit), and military troops who were deployed to a mosque where Jabber was found hiding alongside four gunmen.

Since the October 7 Hamas atrocities in southern Israel, Israeli troops have arrested some 5,000 wanted Palestinians across the West Bank, including more than 2,000 affiliated with Hamas.

Related Analysis

“IDF Finds Bomb Hidden in Baby Carriage in West Bank,” FDD Flash Brief

“West Bank Terrorist Kills Three Israeli Police Officers,” FDD Flash Brief

“Palestinian Terrorists Unleash Twin Car Bombings in West Bank,” FDD Flash Brief