Israel unleashed a significant raid on July 3 on Jenin refugee camp, a Palestinian militant stronghold in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Helicopter gunships fired missiles at a series of buildings, and a brigade-size force entered the crowded camp, backed by armored bulldozers and snipers on rooftops. A military spokesman said that some 50 attacks on Israelis in the past year and a half had emanated from Jenin.
The sweeping operation is part of a wave of increased violence in the Palestinian territories since March 2022, following a spate of Palestinian street attacks. Israeli officials say such operations are necessary to dismantle militant networks and prevent future attacks. At the same time, Palestinians argue that they further entrench Israel’s 55-year-old occupation of the West Bank and east Jerusalem, territories the Palestinians claim for their hoped-for state.
But the timing and nature of the raid on Jenin raise questions about its objectives. It is the first time in years that the army has deployed air strikes and a large ground force to Jenin, and it appears to be the most ambitious yet.
Almost two decades ago, Israel closed down Palestinian commercial banks that had been integrated with Egyptian and Jordanian systems. The move shattered the informal money market that had allowed Palestinian businesses to operate independently of the Israeli economy. As a result, the Israeli shekel became the currency of exchange, and the Jordanian dinar continued to be used unofficially.
As the Palestinian economy has been transformed, it is now reliant on foreign aid, making the local currency vulnerable to fluctuations in the global financial markets. Israel’s policy of closing off access to the outside world has also compounded the shekels volatility. The resulting monopoly has left many Palestinians isolated from global finance, and importing essential items like food and medical supplies is tricky.
In addition to limiting the local economy, Israel has cut off the main highway connecting Jenin with Israel. Palestinians have resorted to a series of blockades and roadblocks, resulting in long lines at checkpoints, fuel shortages, and difficulty getting food and medicine into the town.
Despite such difficulties, the city has managed to maintain some degree of normality in the face of the Israeli siege. Middle East Eye spoke to several Palestinian residents of Jenin who praised their resilience in the face of the siege.
But the escalation in Jenin raises concerns about the potential outbreak of broader conflict. The West Bank is the heartland of the Palestinian national movement, and the longer this attack goes on, the more likely it is that Palestinians will feel they have no choice but to escalate their resistance.
