After Jenin raid, Netanyahu says Israel is not seeking any escalation in violence

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel does not seek an escalation, after this morning’s deadly raid in the northern West Bank city of Jenin.

After holding an assessment with top defense officials, Netanyahu says he praises the Israeli security forces involved in the operation targeting a Palestinian Islamic Jihad cell allegedly planning imminent terror attacks.

Nine Palestinians were killed in the raid, and terror groups in the Gaza Strip have threatened a response.

“Netanyahu made it clear that Israel is not looking to escalate, but instructed the security forces to prepare for any scenario in the various arenas to ensure the safety of Israeli citizens,” his office says in a statement.

In a message to government ministers, the Prime Minister’s Office says that there are “no cities of refuge for terrorists.”

“Everywhere the Palestinian Authority doesn’t fulfill its authority, we’ll be forced to enter and foil terror attacks,” the message continues. The PMO also stresses that IDF forces were fired on first, and made every effort to avoid hitting innocent civilians.