C T Online Desk: Israel carried out air strikes on the Gaza Strip Wednesday in response to rocket fire from the coastal enclave, as the military began withdrawing forces from Jenin in the occupied West Bank after a major two-day operation in the area.
Twelve Palestinians and an Israeli soldier have been killed during the assault on Jenin refugee camp, launched early Monday under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s hard-right government.
The raid, Israel’s biggest military operation in years in the West Bank, employed hundreds of troops as well as drone strikes and army bulldozers that ripped up streets.
Elsewhere, a car ramming and stabbing attack in Tel Aviv on Tuesday wounded seven people before the suspect was shot dead.
The large-scale Israeli army assault on Jenin camp had so far killed 12 Palestinians, the Palestinian health ministry said.
During the operation, an Israeli soldier was also killed by “live fire” late Tuesday, the army announced.
Early Wednesday, the army said it carried out air strikes on the Gaza Strip after it intercepted five rockets fired at Israeli territory.
A Palestinian security source said the attack hit a military site of the militant group Hamas in northern Gaza but caused no injuries.
Late Tuesday, an Israeli army spokesman said troops “have started withdrawing from Jenin camp”.
During the raid, the army said it had uncovered militant hideouts, arms depots and an underground shaft used to store explosives.
“In the last five years, this is the worst raid,” said Qasem Benighader, a nurse at a hospital morgue.
