Residents of the occupied West Bank city of Jenin are struggling to return to normalcy after enduring the longest and deadliest Israeli military operation in the area in 20 years. The city is slowly coming back to life as roads are being repaired, but the damage is severe. Buildings are burnt out, infrastructure like water and electricity is severely damaged, and many areas are still dealing with sewage flowing through the streets.
The Israeli military operation, known as Operation Summer Camps, targeted Palestinian militant groups in response to attacks on Israelis. The raids focused on urban refugee camps that have become impoverished and volatile areas. The offensive resulted in the death of 36 people in the West Bank, with significant infrastructure damage estimated at $13m in Jenin alone.
The new generation of fighters in the camps are loosely affiliated with traditional Palestinian factions and are willing to fight under any banner that provides them with funding and arms. Residents described horrific conditions during the raids, with many trapped in their homes without basic necessities.
Despite hopes for a Gaza ceasefire to ease tensions in the West Bank, a truce does not seem to be on the horizon. Residents of Jenin believe that the ongoing resistance will only grow stronger with each generation. The destruction and violence caused by Operation Summer Camps have left many struggling to rebuild their lives amidst the uncertainty of what the future holds.
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