Israel’s large-scale military operation in Jenin in the northern West Bank continues, Palestinians reported Saturday.
Heavy fighting was reported between Israeli troops and armed Palestinians in the flashpoint city, which is seen as a stronghold of militants and is regularly targeted by Israeli troops.
Several people were arrested in an eastern neighborhood of Jenin on Saturday, Palestinian news agency WAFA reported.
Israeli soldiers prevented Palestinian civilian defense workers from bringing water to a hospital, WAFA also reported.
The director of the Jenin Governmental Hospital told the agency there are concerns that a shortage of clean water would particularly affect patients with kidney diseases who require dialysis treatments.
WAFA reported that the water pipes supplying the hospital were damaged by the Israeli military operation and several parts of Jenin have been cut off from water supply.
There are also said to be power outages in some places.
The account could not be independently verified. After inquiries, the Israeli military said it was investigating the reports.
Israel launched simultaneous military operations in Jenin, Tulkarem and Tubas on Wednesday, following a significant increase in attacks on Israelis.
According to the army, the aim is to take action against terrorist cells in the West Bank with ties to Hamas and Islamic Jihad.
The Israeli military said 20 Palestinian militants had been killed in gun battles and airstrikes since the start of the large-scale operation. Dozens of explosive devices had been destroyed and numerous weapons seized, it said.
