As a fragile ceasefire holds in Gaza, Israeli military aggression has shifted focus to the West Bank, particularly the city of Jenin. This northern city, considered a bastion of Palestinian resistance, has come under a large-scale military operation dubbed “Steel Wall,” involving airstrikes, armoured vehicles, and special forces. The operation, reportedly indefinite in duration, has already claimed ten Palestinian lives and injured 35 others, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.

The United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, has expressed deep concern over the escalation, calling on Israeli forces to exercise “maximum restraint” and limit the use of lethal force to situations of absolute necessity. However, these appeals have fallen on deaf ears, with the military campaign intensifying, leading to widespread panic among Jenin's 20,000 residents.

This latest offensive highlights a grim reality: Israel’s actions in Jenin are emblematic of a broader strategy of entrenching control over the occupied territories. In the shadow of the ceasefire in Gaza, the West Bank is bearing the brunt of an increasingly militarised campaign aimed at suppressing any form of Palestinian resistance. This is compounded by the violence of armed settlers, who, with tacit approval from the Israeli government, continue to attack Palestinian villages, burning homes and vehicles.

The international community remains largely ineffective in holding Israel accountable for these ongoing violations of international law. While the ceasefire in Gaza offers a fleeting moment of calm, the ongoing operation in Jenin underscores the absence of any genuine political resolution. For Palestinians, the fight for dignity and freedom persists against an occupying power that shows no signs of easing its grip.