UPDATE – Egypt, Jordan condemn Israeli assault in Jenin

UPDATES WITH JORDAN’S CONDEMNATION

By Ibrahim Sipahi

ISTANBUL (AA) – Egypt and Jordan on Monday condemned an Israeli military raid in the West Bank city of Jenin, during which four Palestinians were killed and dozens injured.

In a statement, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry reiterated “Egypt’s total rejection of this aggression, which contradicts international law and international legitimacy resolutions.”

“These assaults will only lead to exacerbate the situation, risk to get the situation out of control and undermine efforts to ease tension in the occupied territories,” it added.

Jordan, for its part, called for an immediate international action to halt the Israeli aggression.

“Jordan rejects these assaults and unilateral measures that undermine efforts aimed at easing tension,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Sinan Majali said in a statement.

He warned that “all parties will pay the price for the current cycle of violence.”

The spokesman underlined the need for the international community “to act immediately and effectively to stop this aggression and provide protection for the Palestinian people in all the occupied territories."

Israeli forces raided Jenin city early Monday to arrest two Palestinians, triggering clashes with local residents.

According to the Health Ministry, four Palestinians were killed and 45 others injured during the raid. Seven Israeli soldiers were also wounded.

Israeli forces fired missiles from a helicopter at a residential building in the city during the raid, marking the first use of military aircraft in the West Bank since 2002.

Tensions have been running high across the occupied West Bank in recent months amid repeated Israeli raids into Palestinian towns.

Nearly 165 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces since the start of this year, according to Palestinian figures. At least 21 Israelis have also been killed in separate attacks during the same period.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar