Israel launches its biggest raid on the West Bank in over 20 years

AS THE SUN dipped on July 3rd, the fighting in a refugee camp in Jenin, a city in the West Bank, entered its second night. Ambulances ferried the injured through makeshift roadblocks, flaming tyres pumped a toxic black smoke into the air, and drones hummed faintly overhead. Israel’s army has carried out its largest raid on a Palestinian city in the West Bank since 2002, in an attempt to root out militants and destroy arsenals and explosive workshops there.As this article was published, eight Palestinians had been killed in the operation, mounted by an Israeli special-forces brigade, supported by drone strikes. Dozens had been wounded and captured, and at least three workshops and weapons stores destroyed. Israeli officers said they hoped to leave the city during the night and that the operation would last less than 48 hours.