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Israeli Military Launches Operation “Iron Wall” in West Bank, Seven Palestinians Killed
The Israeli military launched a large-scale operation in the occupied West Bank city of Jenin on Tuesday, killing at least seven Palestinians, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. The operation, named Iron Wall, was announced by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as an effort to “eradicate terrorism in Jenin.”
The operation involves the Israeli military, police, and Shin Bet security agency, with armored vehicles, sharpshooters, and warplanes deployed in and around Jenin. Local reports, including those from Palestinian news agency Wafa, stated that airstrikes targeted parts of the city, and armored bulldozers and vehicles moved through the streets. Ambulances were reportedly blocked from entering the refugee camp, which has become a focal point of the conflict.
Videos shared by local journalists showed extensive military activity, while Palestinian Islamic Jihad’s armed wing, the Al Quds Brigades, said its fighters were actively engaging advancing Israeli troops near the refugee camp.
Rising Tensions Following Gaza Ceasefire
The escalation comes days after a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, raising concerns about renewed instability. Islamic Jihad accused Netanyahu of using the operation to bolster his “faltering government coalition” and undermine recent celebrations in the West Bank, where Palestinian prisoners were released under the Gaza truce.
“We call on our people throughout the occupied West Bank to confront this criminal campaign by all means,” the group said in a statement.
Israeli Officials Signal Broader Campaign
Far-right Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich stated that security in the West Bank is now a core part of Israel’s “war goals.” Smotrich, a vocal critic of the Gaza ceasefire, expressed confidence in the ongoing operations, stating that Israel is working to “change the security concept in Judea and Samaria,” using the biblical term for the West Bank.
The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office has not confirmed whether this expansion of goals reflects official policy.
Civilian Impact and Casualties
The Palestinian Ministry of Health reported 35 injuries from the operation, with those affected transferred to hospitals in Jenin. Since Hamas’ October 7 attack, Israeli forces and settlers have killed 851 Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, including 173 children, according to official figures.
The refugee camp in Jenin, originally established in 1948 for Palestinians displaced by Israel’s creation, now houses approximately 25,000 people. The camp has seen increased tension in recent months, with the Palestinian Authority (PA) launching its own security operations to target militant groups.
The ongoing conflict in Jenin underscores the volatile situation in the region, with both sides bracing for potential escalations.
News
Investigation Underway After Goa Nightclub Fire Kills at Least 25
Authorities in the Indian state of Goa have opened an investigation into a nightclub fire that killed at least 25 people, including several tourists, in one of the region’s most popular party districts. Six others were injured in the blaze, which broke out shortly after midnight in Arpora, a nightlife hub about 25 kilometres from the state capital, Panaji.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant confirmed the death toll in a statement posted on X, saying the victims included many of the club’s kitchen staff and a small number of visiting tourists. He added that all the injured were in stable condition and receiving medical treatment. Rescue teams recovered all bodies from the site.
Early reports from local police, cited by the Press Trust of India, indicated that a gas cylinder explosion triggered the fire. Witnesses, however, told the agency that the blaze appeared to start on the club’s first floor, where nearly 100 tourists were dancing at the time. As smoke and flames swept through the building, many people ran toward the lower floor, where they became trapped along with staff members.
Sawant said a formal inquiry would determine the exact cause and whether the club complied with fire safety regulations. He pledged strict action against anyone found responsible, writing on X that any negligence uncovered by investigators would be “dealt with firmly”.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as patrons attempted to flee the burning building. “We rushed out of the club only to see that the entire structure was up in flames,” said Fatima Shaikh, who was inside when the fire began.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered condolences in a message on X, calling the incident “deeply saddening” and wishing the injured a swift recovery.
Local media reported that the club’s location along the Arpora River backwaters posed challenges for emergency crews. A narrow approach road forced fire engines to park about 400 metres from the entrance, slowing their response. Reports also revealed that the building had previously received a demolition notice after officials found it lacked a construction permit. That order was later withdrawn by senior state authorities, according to Arpora councillor Roshan Redkar.
Incidents involving gas cylinders and electrical faults are not unusual in India and often lead to heavy casualties, prompting renewed calls for stronger enforcement of safety standards. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi criticised the tragedy as a “criminal failure of safety and governance” and urged a transparent investigation to establish accountability and prevent future disasters.
The probe into the fire is expected to assess structural safety, emergency exits and compliance with existing regulations as authorities work to piece together how the late-night gathering turned into one of the deadliest incidents in the state in recent years.
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