UPDATE: Israeli military operation in Jenin

The following message is from the Jewish Federations of North America. Our Federation is committed to keeping you up-to-date on what happens in Israel, especially during times of heightened conflict. We continue to watch all developments in Israel with concern and will keep you posted.

Dear Friends,

Following a difficult day in Israel, Israeli troops have withdrawn from Jenin, signaling the end of the two-day Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) operation there. One Israeli soldier was killed as the fighting drew to a close. Also yesterday, nine Israeli civilians were injured during a terror attack in North Tel Aviv.

As we reported on Monday, Israel launched Operation Home and Garden to root out terrorists and terror infrastructure from the Palestinian city of Jenin. That operation has now concluded and all Israeli forces have left the city. During the withdrawal, one Israeli soldier, David Yehuda Yitzchak z”l, was killed by what may have been friendly fire. His funeral will be held today. Read more about the details.

Also yesterday, a Palestinian terrorist rammed a crowded bus stop in North Tel Aviv. The driver then emerged from his vehicle and began stabbing passersby until he was shot and killed by an Israeli civilian who was driving past. During the attack, nine civilians were injured, including a young pregnant woman who tragically lost her baby as a result of the attack. The Jewish Agency for Israel’s Fund for the Victims of Terror, supported by Jewish Federations, is in the process of completing the distribution of emergency funds to all the victims of yesterday’s attack.

Overnight, five rockets were fired from Gaza into Israel, sounding sirens in Sderot and other towns. All five were intercepted by Israel’s Iron Dome system, although some fragments landed on houses in Israel (including next to a toddlers’ swimming pool), causing minor damage. In response, Israel carried out a limited retaliatory strike.

At one point during yesterday’s fighting in Jenin, a number of terrorists barricaded themselves inside a mosque. In the ensuing firefight, the mosque was captured by Israeli troops who discovered a network of tunnels that the terrorists had dug under the mosque. The tunnels were also used to store explosives and other weapons.

Palestinian media is reporting widespread damage to infrastructure in Jenin as a result of Israeli actions. The IDF says it was forced to use heavy equipment on numerous roads and other areas in order to remove a large number of roadside bombs and other terror targets. An Israeli journalist witnessed the town, post-fighting, and there were reactions of Palestinian residents. Israel has committed to repair essential civilian infrastructure (for water and electricity) damaged by troops due to the fighting, in coordination with the Palestinian Authority.

In what the IDF says is a testament to its high level of intelligence, professionalism and care for human life, despite two days of heavy fighting – that included armored vehicles and aerial attacks – no civilians were killed during the operation. Palestinian sources do not dispute this fact.

The IDF summarized its two-day operation in Jenin with the following results:

13 Palestinian terrorists killed.
30 terrorists arrested.
14 apartments containing terror bases were destroyed.
Three terror command and control centers were destroyed. The IDF also discovered a large network of CCTV cameras that had been deployed throughout Jenin and used against IDF troops.
6 bomb-manufacturing sites were destroyed.
Over 1,000 explosive devices were captured, including large road-side bombs and other IEDs.
32 guns (24 M16 rifles + eight handguns), along with thousands of rounds of ammunition were captured.
Dozens of kilograms of chemical materials used for bomb-making were discovered.
Hundreds of thousands of shekels in cash, designated for terror purposes, were confiscated.
Six underground tunnels used for hiding terrorists, explosives and ammunition were uncovered and destroyed.
Two weapons storage facilities were destroyed.

As always, Jewish Federations of North America are hoping that quiet prevails. We are keeping a close watch on developments and will report as needed.