The Israeli military is carrying out its longest incursion into the West Bank in 20 years, aiming to set the stage for smaller operations in the future.
The operation was intended to dismantle Hamas' infrastructure in the region and send a clear message to armed groups in the area.
During the operation, dozens of suspects were arrested and weapons and explosives-making materials were seized, which have been used more often over the past year, especially in Jenin.
So far, according to the IDF, more than 30 gunmen have been killed in the operation, including the Hamas chief in Jenin and the head of Islamic Jihad in the Tulkarm area.
The military believes it can continue to operate at this pace in Jenin and other parts of the West Bank, with nightly raids and major operations every few weeks or months, to thwart Hamas and Islamic Jihad's attempts to grow.
The Israeli military believes that with this major operation in the West Bank, it will be possible to more easily arrest Palestinians wanted in Jenin in the future and thwart major terror attacks being planned from the area, giving the military “operational freedom” in the region.
However, military officials said a balance needs to be struck between the intensity of the operations and the repercussions of such raids, as Israel cannot afford to turn the West Bank into its main front amid ongoing fighting against Hamas in Gaza and rising tensions on the northern border.