July 03, 2023: Mohammad Mohannad Shami, 23, was killed by Israeli soldiers invading the Jenin refugee camp in the northern West Bank city of Jenin. The soldiers shot him in the head.
He is one of eight Palestinians killed by the army, and more than fifty injured Palestinians, ten seriously, including gunshot wounds to the head and the back.
The offensive started when Israeli war jets and drones fired many missiles before more than 200 armored Israeli military vehicles, including bulldozers, invaded Jenin city from several directions and advanced to surround the Jenin refugee camp before the soldiers stormed and occupied many homes and buildings.
The Palestinian Health Ministry has confirmed seven deaths in Jenin and the injury of at least 27 and added that the soldiers targeted medical centers, medics, and ambulances after preventing them from entering the refugee camp.
Media sources said the Israeli army stormed and caused damage to dozens of homes in the Jenin refugee camp and damaged some of their walls to allow the soldiers to fire at the Palestinians in the streets without being seen.
The sources added that an Israeli military drone fired a missile at a Palestinian home near the Al-Huriyyah Theater, wounding a child, many families took shelter in the theater which was also targeted by one missile.
The Palestinian Health Ministry said the eight slain Palestinians have been identified as Samih Firas Abu Al-Wafa, 21, Aws Hani Hannoun, 19, Husam Mohammad Abu Theeba, 18, Noureddin Husam Marshoud, 16, Mohammad Mohannad Shami, 23, Ahmad Mohammad Al-Amer, 21, Ali Hani Al-Ghoul, 17, and Majdi Ar’arawi, 17.
Also, Dr. Wisam Bakr, the head of the Jenin governmental hospital, said Palestinian medics face serious difficulties and danger due to the Israeli siege, ongoing onslaught, and the deliberate targeting of ambulances.
The Israeli army bulldozed and destroyed streets to prevent Palestinian ambulances and media vehicles from entering the refugee camp.
Palestine TV said the Israeli Airforce carried out more than twenty strikes on the Jenin refugee camp, using fighter jets and armed drones.
The Israeli army destroyed several homes, including two owned by Palestinians from Shalabi and Natour families after firing missiles at them and causing damage to surrounding homes and buildings.
Furthermore, the army deliberately targeted electricity transformers and poles to ensure a blackout in Jenin refugee camp and its surrounding areas.
The Israeli soldiers also invaded many homes and buildings overlooking the Jenin refugee camp and deployed sharpshooters on rooftops, and deployed tanks on hills and neighborhoods overlooking the Jenin refugee camp.
Furthermore, Israeli military bulldozers damage dozens of Palestinian cars parked near homes in areas close to the Jenin refugee camp.
Also, dozens of military vehicles also invaded several villages and towns around Jenin city, stormed and ransacked dozens of homes, and assaulted many Palestinians.
Media sources said the Israeli army also fired dozens of gas bombs around the Jenin Governmental Hospital, causing many patients and residents, including children receiving treatment at the medical facility, to suffer the effects of tear gas inhalation.
Israeli daily Haaretz said the Israeli army spokesperson Daniel Hagari confirmed that the soldiers invaded the Jenin refugee camp, however, Palestinian sources said all entrances to the refugee camp were blocked.
Haaretz stated that the Palestinians in Jenin received a message from the army, ordering them to remain in their homes, and added that “Hagari stressed that this is not an operation against the Palestinian Authority or the residents,” according to the Israeli report.
Hagari said the offensive in Jenin may continue and expand but is “currently limited to the Jenin area.”
The Israeli army claimed it targeted a “unified command center” used as an “advanced observation and reconnaissance center,” by Palestinian resistance fighters in Jenin, Haaretz added.
The Israeli army also pushed more vehicles into the area, while many tanks were deployed near the Al-Jalama military roadblock north of Jenin in preparation for invading Jenin.
Palestinian resistance fighters from various factions exchanged fire with the invading soldiers and military vehicles and detonated explosive charges near the armored vehicles.
Most of the wounded were treated by young men and women who have received first aid and emergency medical training over the past few months in preparation for the offensive, which Israel has been discussing for some time.
Palestine TV said the soldiers have also encircled its headquarters in Jenin and are using equipment to disrupt live coverage.
It added that the Israeli war jets and armed drones fired at least twenty missiles at several buildings in the Jenin refugee camp.
Furthermore, Palestinian resistance fighters in Jenin said they managed to destroy an armored Israeli military bulldozer after detonating an explosive charge near an Israeli military bulldozer.
The Israeli occupation army has confirmed it was conducting an extensive military offensive throughout Jenin refugee and the Jenin refugee camp and added that one of its airstrikes targeted a building allegedly used by Palestinian fighters where they gather, and store weapons and ammunition, according to the statement issued by the army and the Israeli Security Agency “Shin Bet.”
The army said more than 1000 soldiers and at least a hundred military vehicles are participating in the offensive.
Various Palestinian factions, including the Islamic Jihad, said the offensive would fail in achieving its goals and would only intensify the resistance against the Israeli occupation and more steadfastness and unity among the Palestinians.
The Al-Quds Brigades, the armed wing of the Islamic Jihad, said Palestinian resistance fighters would never surrender, Jenin would never surrender and added that Israel would fail in achieving its goals and bear the consequences of its offensive.
“All options are open to striking the enemy; we will retaliate to this aggression and continue to resist the occupation,” the Al-Quds Brigades stated.
Mohammad was from Jenin, in the occupied West Bank’s northern part. Source: IMEMC