Israel hunts Islamic Jihad operatives in West Bank
Despite the cease-fire in the Gaza Strip between Palestinian Islamic Jihad and the Israeli army, the West Bank remains volatile.
RAMALLAH, West Bank — After three days of fighting that killed dozens of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, Israel and Palestinian Islamic Jihad reached an Egyptian-brokered truce that came into force late on Aug. 7.
The cease-fire agreement is vulnerable as the Israeli military operation against Islamic Jihad, codenamed “Breaking Dawn,” has not been limited to the Gaza Strip. Before the fighting, Israel had targeted Islamic Jihad members in the West Bank, specifically in Nablus and Jenin. On Aug. 2, Israeli forces arrested one of the group’s leaders, Bassam al-Saadi, from his home in the Jenin refugee camp. Video footage of the incident showed an injured Saadi, being dragged by soldiers.
Islamic Jihad demanded the release of Saadi as well as Khalil Awawda, a Palestinian prisoner on hunger strike.There are no guarantees Israel will fulfill these demands.
Although the fighting in Gaza has stopped, the turmoil in the West Bank is still ongoing. The Israeli army clamped down on Islamic Jihad members in the West Bank, arresting several of the movement’s leaders and members.
