June 2023 Jenin incursion
{{Short description|2023 Israeli raid on the Jenin refugee camp}}
{{pp|small=yes}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2023}}
{{Infobox civil conflict
| title = June 2023 Jenin incursion
| subtitle =
| partof = the Israeli–Palestinian conflict
| image =
| caption =
| date = 19 June 2023
| place = Jenin Camp, West Bank
| coordinates =
| causes =
| goals =
| methods =
| status =
| result =
| side1 = {{flag|Israel}}
| side2 = {{flagicon image|}} PIJ
{{flagicon image|Flag of al-Qassam Brigades.svg}} Hamas{{Cite news |last=Sawafta |first=Ali |date=2023-06-19 |title=Israeli troops, backed by helicopter, kill 5 Palestinians in clash |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israeli-forces-kill-2-palestinians-west-bank-clash-medics-say-2023-06-19/ |access-date=2023-06-19 |archive-date=19 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230619120835/https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israeli-forces-kill-2-palestinians-west-bank-clash-medics-say-2023-06-19/ |url-status=live }}
Other militants
| side3 =
| side4 =
| leadfigures1 =
| leadfigures2 =
| leadfigures3 =
| units1 = {{flagicon image|Flag of the Israel Border Police.svg}} Yamas{{Cite web |last=Greene |first=Kareem Khadder,Hadas Gold,Richard Allen |date=2023-06-19 |title=Huge firefight erupts as Israeli forces raid Jenin, leaving 5 Palestinians dead |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/06/19/middleeast/israel-jenin-idf-clashes-west-bank-intl-hnk/index.html |access-date=2023-06-19 |website=CNN |language=en |archive-date=19 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230619113433/https://www.cnn.com/2023/06/19/middleeast/israel-jenin-idf-clashes-west-bank-intl-hnk/index.html |url-status=live }}
{{flagicon|Israel|tsahal}} Israel Defense Forces
| leadfigures4 =
| units2 = {{flagicon image|}} Al-Quds Brigades
{{flagicon image|Flag of al-Qassam Brigades.svg}} Al-Qassam Brigades
Jenin Battalion
| howmany1 =
| howmany2 =
| howmany3 =
| howmany4 =
| casualties1 = 8 Israeli soldiers wounded
Several vehicles damaged
| casualties2 = 3 killed
2 arrested{{cite web |title=Armed clashes break out between IDF, Palestinians in West Bank |url=https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-744477 |website=The Jerusalem Post |access-date=19 June 2023 |archive-date=19 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230619003129/https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-744477 |url-status=live }}
| casualties3 = 4 Palestinian civilians killed, including 2 children
90+ wounded
| arrests =
| damage =
| buildings =
| detentions =
| charged =
| fined =
| effect =
| effect_label =
| casualties_label =
| notes = Other incursion {{Succession links|left=January 2023|right=July 2023}}
| sidebox =
}}
On 19 June 2023, Israeli soldiers and border police officers entered the Jenin refugee camp to arrest two wanted suspects. This resulted in clashes between Palestinian gunmen from the Jenin Brigades and Israeli soldiers. The clash had led to seven Palestinian deaths and upwards of 90 Palestinians wounded; 8 wounded Israeli soldiers. The incursion led to reprisals on both Israeli and Palestinian populations in the occupied West Bank.
Raid
During the early morning of 19 June 2023, Israeli soldiers and border police officers entered into the Jenin refugee camp to arrest two wanted suspects. Clashes between Palestinian gunmen from the Jenin Brigades and Israeli soldiers broke out. Six Palestinians were killed ouright, and a seventh victim died in hospital. Three of the dead are known to have been militants. At least 90 Palestinians were wounded, among whom 22 are in critical condition.{{Cite web |title=Five Palestinians killed as Israeli forces raid West Bank camp |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/6/19/deaths-injuries-as-israeli-forces-raid-jenin |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230619174933/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/6/19/deaths-injuries-as-israeli-forces-raid-jenin |archive-date=19 June 2023 |access-date=2023-06-19 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en}} As the Israeli soldiers and border police officers were leaving the city, a roadside bomb was detonated under an Israeli armored vehicle, leaving 8 soldiers wounded, all of whom were successfully evacuated by helicopter. The level and strength of the improvised explosive device (IED) used by the Palestinian militants surprised the Israeli army, as it shows rapid improvement compared to previous poorly performing IEDs.{{cite web |last1=Fabian |first1=Emanuel |date=19 June 2023 |title=5 Palestinians dead, 8 IDF troops hurt in Jenin battle; Apache carries out airstrikes |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/palestinian-killed-as-heavy-clashes-erupt-during-idf-raid-in-jenin/ |access-date=20 June 2023 |website=The Times of Israel}}
Israel used helicopters in the incursion, the first time they had been deployed against Palestinian villages for two decades. Israeli snipers reportedly shot at several Palestinian journalists, wearing press jackets, who were attempting to cover the unfolding incursion. One such journalist, Hazem Nasser working for as a cameraman for Al-Ghad TV, was shot and wounded.{{Cite web |last=Zion |first=Ilan Ben |last2=Mohammed |first2=Majdi |date=2023-06-19 |title=Fiercest fighting in years erupts in West Bank camp of Jenin, at least 5 Palestinians killed |url=https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-west-bank-f9499fa4013e39e7f3ee9036b35338ce |access-date=2023-06-20 |website=AP NEWS |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Lynfield |first=Ben |date=2023-06-19 |title=Israeli forces launch helicopter raid on Jenin in occupied West Bank |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jun/19/sraeli-forces-helicopter-raid-jenin-west-bank-palestinians-killed |access-date=2023-06-20 |issn=0261-3077}} The Palestinian Red Crescent stated that Israeli fire had targeted four Palestinian ambulances. According to Haaretz, a 15 year old girl, Sadeel Turkman, was shot while inside her home.{{Cite news |last=Lynfield |first=Ben |date=2023-06-19 |title=Israeli forces launch helicopter raid on Jenin in occupied West Bank |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jun/19/sraeli-forces-helicopter-raid-jenin-west-bank-palestinians-killed |url-status=live |access-date=2023-06-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230619211113/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jun/19/sraeli-forces-helicopter-raid-jenin-west-bank-palestinians-killed |archive-date=19 June 2023 |issn=0261-3077}}
Several major Palestinian organisations such as Hamas and the PFLP praised the militants of Jenin.{{Cite web |date=2023-06-19 |title=الفصائل الفلسطينية تنعى شهداء جنين وتوجّه التحية لمقاوميها الأبطال |url=https://pflp.ps/post/23180/الفصائل-الفلسطينية-تنعى-شهداء-جنين-وتوجه-التحية-لمقاوميها-الأبطال |access-date=2023-06-19 |website=الجبهة الشعبية لتحرير فلسطين |language=ar}} The roadside bomb was claimed by Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
Aftermath
{{see also|2023 Eli shooting}}
In response to the incursion,David Gritten, [https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-65963017 'Palestinian gunmen near West Bank settlement,'] BBC News 21 June 2023. 2 Palestinian militants, coming from Urif shot dead 4 Israelis near the Israeli settlement of Eli on 20 June 2023. One of the assailants was shot dead on the scene by an armed settler, the other was later killed by Israeli forces in Tubas.{{Cite web |last1=Tal |first1=Elliott Gotkine |last2=Kareem Khadder | first2=Amir |date=2023-06-20 |title=At least four Israelis killed in West Bank shootings, authorities say |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/06/20/middleeast/israel-eli-shootings-west-bank-intl/index.html |access-date=2023-06-21 |website=CNN |language=en}}
In response to the Eli shooting, on 21 June 2023, hundreds of Israeli settlers, armed and masked, attacked the Palestinian village of Turmus Ayya in the occupied West Bank, setting at least 50 vehicles and 15 houses on fire. One Palestinian died and 12 others were wounded.Emanuel Fabian, [https://www.timesofisrael.com/settlers-rampage-in-palestinian-town-near-ramallah-after-terror-victims-funerals/ 'Palestinian killed in unclear circumstances as settlers rampage in West Bank town,'] Times of Israel 21 June 2023 The village mayor remarked that "the Israeli army [was] not doing anything to stop" the violence.{{Cite web |last=Khadder |first=Kareem |date=2023-06-21 |title=Palestinian villagers attacked in wake of Israeli settler killings, Palestinian official says |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/06/21/middleeast/west-bank-palestinians-killed-intl-hnk/index.html |access-date=2023-06-21 |website=CNN |language=en}} The following day they attacked the village of Al-Lubban ash-Sharqiya destroying vehicles, damaging 10 homes, vandalizing two shops, a gas station a wheat warehouse, and electricity poles.Oren Ziv, [https://www.972mag.com/pogrom-settlers-west-bank-army/ 'Palestinians pick up the pieces after settler pogrom in West Bank village,'] +972 magazine 21 June 2023
Fatalities
Palestinian civilian casualties:
- Ahmed Yousef Saqr (15)
- Khaled Azzam ‘Asa’sa (21)
- Amjad Aref al-Jaas (48){{cite web |title=Sixth Palestinian dies after Israeli raid on Jenin refugee camp |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/6/20/sixth-palestinian-killed-in-israeli-raid-on-jenin-refugee-camp |website=Al Jazeera |access-date=20 June 2023}}
- Sadeel Turkman (15){{Cite web |last=Fabian |first=Emanuel |date=21 June 2023 |title=Teen Palestinian girl dies of wounds sustained in Jenin clashes between gunmen, IDF |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/teen-palestinian-girl-dies-of-wounds-sustained-in-jenin-clashes-between-gunmen-idf/ |access-date=2023-06-28 |website=Times of Israel |language=en-US}}
Islamic Jihad casualties: