The office of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas condemned an Israeli military operation in the occupied West Bank on Monday, labeling it as “ethnic cleansing.” The Palestinian Health Ministry reported that Israeli forces have killed 70 people in the West Bank since the start of the year.
Spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh issued a statement condemning Israel’s actions, accusing the occupying forces of trying to displace Palestinians and carry out ethnic cleansing. The health ministry confirmed that the victims included 10 children, one woman, and two elderly individuals. The casualties were primarily in the northern West Bank, with 38 deaths in Jenin and 15 in Tubas, as well as one in East Jerusalem.
Israeli forces launched a significant offensive in the West Bank on January 21, targeting Palestinian armed groups, particularly in Jenin. According to the Israeli military, more than 50 “terrorists” were killed during this operation, which included airstrikes.
The Palestinian leadership called for U.S. intervention to stop the Israeli aggression, especially as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Washington for talks on the ongoing conflict and the next phase of Israel’s truce negotiations with Hamas.
