Israeli forces have launched a third day of operations around the flashpoint West Bank city of Jenin after heavy gunbattles in recent days and overnight arrests.
Tensions have soared since a spree of attacks in Israel left 14 people dead in the past three weeks, with Prime Minister Naftali Bennett warning the Jewish state is now “on the offensive”.
The Israeli army said 14 Palestinians were arrested early on Monday, a day after four Palestinians were killed in separate incidents in the occupied territory.
Another 13 army battalions were now operating in the West Bank, a military source said.
In Jenin, thousands of mourners flooded the streets, many carrying Palestinian flags or rifles, for the funeral of Mohamed Zakarneh, 17, who according to the Wafa news agency died of gunshot wounds.
“The resistance is in direct confrontation with the occupation and any minute we must expect a total clash,” said Ziad al-Nakhala, secretary-general of the militant Islamic Jihad movement.
“Jenin must not be isolated, no matter the cost.”
The Israeli army said: “Violent riots were instigated by dozens of Palestinians” near Nablus, while the Palestine Red Crescent said 24 Palestinians were wounded in the Nablus area overnight.
Jenin, as well as Bethlehem in the southern West Bank, declared general strikes, closing shops, offices and official institutions.
Read the article in The Australian (AFP).