On Monday, the Israeli military conducted a raid on a refugee camp in the northern West Bank, resulting in the most intense day of fighting in years.

Palestinian militants responded by detonating roadside bombs, and Israeli helicopter gunships targeted Palestinian gunmen to rescue trapped troops during the prolonged firefight.

According to Palestinian health officials, at least five Palestinians, including a 15-year-old boy, were killed, and over 90 others were wounded. The Israeli army reported that seven of their soldiers were also injured, the Associated Press reported.

The Israeli military stated that their forces entered the Jenin refugee camp early in the morning with the intention of arresting two wanted militants.

However, they encountered fierce resistance. Palestinian militants reportedly launched an ambush on Israeli armored vehicles using explosive devices, disabling several vehicles with soldiers trapped inside.

Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, an Israeli military spokesman, described the use of powerful roadside bombs by Palestinian militants as “very unusual and dramatic.”

The intense firefight lasted for hours, with five heavily damaged vehicles immobilized. As part of an elaborate evacuation operation, the military had to deploy helicopters to extricate the trapped soldiers.

Written by staff