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Children ‘shot in head and chest’ during Israel’s military operation in Jenin

A child killed during Israel’s military operation in Jenin was shot in the head, while another is believed to have received a fatal bullet to the chest, according to a local rights organisation.

A third was hit by a missile strike in the violence at the Jenin refugee camp, said Ayed Abu Eqtaish, accountability programme director at Defence for Children International-Palestine.

They are among at least 10 people who Palestinian officials say have been killed in one of Israel’s biggest military operations in the occupied West Bank in years.

Mr Abu Eqtaish told i that people are “trapped” in the refugee camp as all exits are blocked. He said that only the Palestinian Red Crescent has access to evacuate the injured and remove bodies, although they have also reportedly experienced obstacles in accessing those in need.

The World Health Organisation also said first responders had been prevented from entering the camp, but an Israeli military spokesman said there had been no such order and that the army was “co-ordinating the entry of ambulances”.

Information gathered by locals and journalists in the camp suggested two children died of gunshot wounds while another was hit by a missile strike. The circumstances in which the children were killed are not yet clear.

About 3,000 people have been evacuated from the 14,000-strong refugee camp which, according to Mr Abu Eqtaish, has seen some areas under “constant shelling” since what Israel has branded an “extensive counterterrorism effort” operation started.

JENIN, WEST BANK - JULY 04: Palestinian medical teams assist civilians who have leave their homes in Jenin refugee camp, where the Israeli forces continue its attacks, in Jenin, West Bank on July 04, 2023. The raids and attacks launched by the Israeli army on the Jenin refugee camp continue on the second day. (Photo by Nedal Eshtayah/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Palestinian medical teams assist civilians living in Jenin refugee camp (Photo: Nedal Eshtayah/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

The operation – which the army said was aimed at destroying infrastructure and weapons of militant groups in the camp – was launched with a drone strike in the early hours of Monday and continued all day, involving hundreds of troops.

Mr Abu Eqtaish fears for children’s wellbeing in the camp. “The situation is terrifying especially for children,” he said. “You can’t imagine the psychological effect of hearing explosions, strikes, shooting and being under this constant threat of being killed.”

These children “have experienced this before so there is an impact on their psychological wellbeing”, he added.

He said movement inside the camp – which has been one of the focal points of a wave of violence that has swept the West Bank for more than a year – is “very restricted… no-one is allowed to go in or go out and moving between houses is life-threatening”.

Save the Children said the military operation was the largest by the Israel security forces in the West Bank since 2002 as it called for “immediate de-escalation of hostilities”.

Jason Lee, country director for Save the Children in the occupied Palestinian Territory, told i: “It is unacceptable that children are once again subjected to violence and are paying the price for the ongoing conflict.

“There must be an immediate de-escalation of hostilities, and to deliver much needed humanitarian assistance to children and their families. Civilians and civilian infrastructure must be protected to ensure that children can access basic services.”

Hundreds of fighters from militant groups, including Hamas, Islamic Jihad and Fatah, live in the camp, which has been fortified with a range of obstacles and watching posts to counter regular army raids.

On Tuesday, the Israeli military said border police had found an underground shaft used to store explosives in the refugee camp and had dismantled two observation posts.

After more than 24 hours of clashes, Israeli national security adviser, Tzachi Hanegbi, said the operation was “close to completing the achievement of the goals set”, but there was no specific indication of when it might end.

International reaction to the operation has been mixed. The United States said it respected Israel’s right to defend itself but that it was imperative to avoid civilian casualties.

Mr Abu Eqtaish called the US response “a green light for Israel to continue its aggression and assault against Jenin camp”.

He said the outcome of the situation “depends on the interventions of the international community”.

Mohammed Moustafa Orfy, Egypt’s permanent representative to the Arab League, said the operation would hinder efforts to bring about reconciliation after months of escalating violence.

“What is happening in Jenin, from brutal killing using the Israeli war machine, is aimed at shrinking to a very large extent the chances of reviving the peace process,” he said.

i has approached the Israeli government for comment.

Additional reporting by agencies

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