Israeli helicopter attack brings back painful memories of 2002, say Jenin's residents

Israeli air bombing on the refugee camp of Jenin on Monday brought back painful memories of Israel's bloody invasion of the camp during the Second Intifada in 2002, residents remarked to The New Arab. 

During its military raid on the refugee camp yesterday, Israeli forces killed five Palestinians and wounded 91, including 23 in critical condition. A sixth Palestinian, who was wounded on Monday, died early on Tuesday, according to the Palestinian health ministry.

The Israeli army used helicopter gunships to bomb Palestinian targets in the surroundings of the refugee camp, a practice that was last used more than two decades ago in the occupied West Bank and Jenin during the second Intifada.

During the eight-day-long battle of Jenin in April of 2022, the Israeli army bombed the refugee camp using helicopter gunships and F-16 fighter jets. The battle ended with 58 Palestinians killed, mostly civilians, 300 houses in the refugee camp destroyed, and 27 Israeli soldiers killed in combat with Palestinian fighters.

Earlier today, the Israeli regime invaded Jenin refugee camp once again. As they failed to quell the resistance, they brought in helicopters to drop bombs on residents.

5 Palestinians have been killed so far & over 90 injured according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. https://t.co/P783FNC6hZ

— Dr. Yara Hawari د. يارا هواري (@yarahawari) June 19, 2023

"What happened on Monday was a reminder of 2002, but not exactly the same," Mostfa Shita, director of the Jenin Freedom Theater, remarked to TNA. "At that time, the occupation used war tanks and military bulldozers, and I also remember seeing the F-16 fighter jets shooting missiles at the camp."

"Residents are currently divided in the feelings they express about what just happened," said Shita. "On the one hand, the use of helicopters to bomb the camp means that the occupation was confronted by stiff resistance, which makes people proud."

"Monday's bombing was an indication that the escalation in the occupied West Bank, and Jenin especially, might be irreversible and that soon we might be facing a new battle like that of 2002," he added.

Israeli forces deployed helicopters during Monday's raid after Palestinian fighters ambushed Israeli troops on the outskirts of the Jenin camp with improvised explosive devices and a shower of gunfire.

Five Israeli soldiers were wounded, and several armoured vehicles were damaged or destroyed,  according to claims by the Israeli media,

Following the raid, Palestinians circulated the streets of Jenin holding pieces of one Israeli armoured vehicle damaged by an explosive device.

This morning, Israeli forces shot 15-year-old Ahmad Yousef Ahmad Saqer with live ammunition in the abdomen from inside an Israeli military vehicle during an Israeli military incursion into Jenin refugee camp. Doctors at Jenin Government Hospital declared Ahmad dead shortly after. pic.twitter.com/9yQS2HY4BO

— Defense for Children (@DCIPalestine) June 19, 2023

"The helicopter bombing was a significant escalation by the occupation, but it came as a reaction to what happened to their soldiers in the morning, which they didn't expect," Abul Muhja Asaasah, a relative of 20-year-old Khaled Asaasah who was killed during Monday's raid by Israeli forces, told TNA.

"But it is still not like 2002, where there were thousands of soldiers, bulldozers and tanks for more than a week, although it reminded us of those days," said Asaasah.

"The resistance in the camp is obviously improving its capacities, and the occupation is obviously willing to escalate the violence of its raids," he added. "It's very possible that we might be facing a new large operation like that of 2002."

Jenin |

Jenin Battalion publish a video showing it activating an IED on a military armored personnel carrier.

The explosion resulted in 5 Israeli soldiers injured including, 1 in serious condition. The vehicle was severely damaged and broke down. pic.twitter.com/aAIXBiFOLI

— Younis | يونس (@ytirawi) June 19, 2023

Israeli army officials have recently spoken in recent months about the possibility of a large-scale military operation on the occupied West Bank cities similar to the 2002 invasion.

"I don't think there will be a large-scale operation anytime soon," Jamal Hweil, a Palestinian academic, writer and former fighter who fought in the battle of Jenin in 2002, told TNA.

"The use of air bombing on Monday was an escalation, and it did remind us all of 2002, but it's an expected one given the escalation that has been taking place for a year and a half," pointed out Hweil.

"The occupation will most likely escalate its violence and its weaponry use in specific places, like Jenin, Tulkarm, Nablus or Jericho, with helicopters and more, but I don't believe it will include all the territory," he added.

"Nor will it tame the Palestinian resistance, which will continue as it continues today, two decades after 2002."