IDF says it carried out two major raids in West Bank

The Israel Defense Forces carried out what it says are two “brigade-level” raids in the West Bank’s Jenin refugee camp and Balata refugee camp, detaining suspects and seizing weapons.

In all, 38 wanted Palestinians were arrested in overnight raids, including some 20 in Jenin and Balata, the IDF says.

The IDF says troops clashed with Palestinian gunmen in both camps.

It says that in Balata, troops seized several firearms and explosive devices. In Jenin, troops found and destroyed a cache of explosive devices near a mosque, and three command rooms, and seized several firearms.

Troops also clashed with Palestinian rioters in the West Bank village of Tamun, near Tubas, and in the Dheisheh refugee camp near Bethlehem.

According to Palestinian media, one Palestinian was killed in Jenin, and a second in Dheisheh.

Weapons seized by Israeli troops in the West Bank’s Balata refugee camp, November 19, 2023. (Israel Defense Forces)

Since Oct. 7, the IDF says troops have arrested some 1,800 wanted Palestinians across the West Bank, including more than 1,100 affiliated with Hamas.

According to the Palestinian Authority health ministry, some 200 West Bank Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces, and in some cases settlers, since October 7.