On January 21, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the launch of a new military operation called “Iron Wall” in the West Bank city of Jenin. The operation involves the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the Shin Bet Security Service (Shabak), and the police. Netanyahu said it was part of a broader strategy to ensure security in Judea and Samaria, emphasizing that Israel was acting against threats from the “Iranian axis,” including arms shipments to Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen.
According to Israeli and Palestinian sources, six Palestinians were killed and 35 others were injured in the first days of the operation. The pro-Palestinian publication Al Jazeera notes that the city of Jenin, which the Palestinians call the "capital of martyrs" and the Israelis call a "hornet's nest," has become the epicenter of the long-standing confrontation.
Jenin, the capital of the Palestinian Authority's Jenin province, was handed over to the Palestinian Authority after the 1996 Oslo Accords. However, in recent years, the Palestinian Authority has lost control of the area, which has become a stronghold for armed groups. Israel believes that it is here that attacks against its citizens and security forces are organized and coordinated.
The operation follows a series of Israeli military actions in the West Bank, with the last major raid in Jenin in August 2024. Despite Israeli assurances that such operations are aimed at eliminating terrorist threats, Palestinian activists and international organizations have criticized them for the high level of violence and civilian casualties.
The situation in the West Bank is complicated by the recent ceasefire agreement between Israel and the Hamas group in the Gaza Strip. However, the prospects for stabilization remain uncertain given the ongoing tensions in the region.
In the wake of the Jenin operation, Israel has seen significant changes in its military command. IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevy has resigned, taking responsibility for the army's lack of preparation for the Hamas attack on October 7. Southern Command Commander Yaron Finkelman has also resigned. The changes raise questions about the IDF's readiness to face new challenges.