Assault on Jenin carries hallmarks of second intifada

Violence escalates to a level that marked uprising and subsequent crackdown that erupted a generation ago

- Bethan McKernan and Peter Beaumont

Israel launched a major offensive into the West Bank city of Jenin, its biggest military operation in the Palestinian territory in years, in what it described as an "extensive counter-terrorism effort".

At least 10 Palestinians were killed and 100 injured, 20 seriously, in the attack that began at about 1am on Monday, according to the Palestinian health ministry.

Launching at least 10 drone strikes on buildings, a brigade of Israeli troops - suggesting between 1,000 and 2,000 soldiers - backed by armoured bulldozers and snipers on rooftops, entered the city and its refugee camp, encountering fire from Palestinians, after Israel informed the White House of its plans.

A spokesperson for the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, called the operation "a new war crime against our defenceless people", while the Gaza-based militant group Hamas called on young men in the West Bank to join the fighting.

In a joint statement, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) and the domestic intelligence service, Shin Bet, said they had attacked a command centre in the Jenin refugee camp that was used by a militant group.

By Tuesday, thousands of people were reported to have fled the camp. "There are about 3,000 people who have left the camp so far," Jenin deputy governor Kamal Abu al-Roub told the AFP news agency, adding that arrangements were being made to house them in schools and other shelters in the city of Jenin. He said about 18,000 Palestinians normally reside in the camp.