The Entity Launches Decisive Campaign in the West Bank by Reoccupying Northern Cities and Camps / Fierce Battles in Jenin, Tulkarm, and Tubas; Resistance Engages in Street-to-Street Combat

Albinaa’ Newspaper Headlines August 29, 2024

The political editor wrote

The slowdown in negotiations, following the failure of the occupying entity’s hopes to secure a decisive military victory that would shift the balance of power and influence negotiation dynamics, is reflected in the recent actions of the occupation army. The campaign in the West Bank, including the reoccupation of northern cities and refugee camps – equivalent in scale to a military division, according to the Israeli Broadcasting Authority – was designed to eliminate resistance strongholds. This would enable armed settlers to seize land, displace Palestinians, expand settlements, and increase settler populations.

Originally, this operation was delayed until after resolving the Gaza conflict, reaching an agreement under Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, or establishing deterrence on the Lebanon front. However, it was expedited out of frustration over the unresolved issues of Gaza, a favourable agreement, and Lebanon deterrence.

The timing of the campaign seems to be linked to the outcomes of the resistance operation of the ‘fortieth’ in response to the southern Beirut attack and the assassination of leader Fouad Shukr. The occupying entity now views the Gaza conflict as an opportunity to launch a major military campaign in the West Bank before acknowledging its failure in Gaza and its inability to achieve deterrence with Lebanon or impose new negotiation terms on Gaza’s resistance.

Fierce battles continued throughout the day in Jenin, Tulkarm, and Tubas, where resistance groups engaged in street-to-street and house-to-house combat using machine guns, hand grenades, and explosive devices. The occupation army deployed its latest equipment and technologies, including fighter jets and drones. Resistance factions emphasised their ability to endure and confront, suggesting that the street fighting could shift the balance of power and inflict significant losses on the occupation army, potentially forcing a withdrawal.

On the Lebanon front, the situation returned to the power dynamics established by the resistance before the southern suburbs attack and the subsequent resistance response. Rockets targeted occupation positions, while the ongoing conflict influenced discussions at the United Nations Security Council regarding the renewal of UNIFIL’s mandate for another year. This time, Washington and Western capitals refrained from proposing modifications to UNIFIL’s mission that would enhance Israeli security interests.