Why Jenin? The refugee camp in Israel’s constant sight

Here's a round-up of Al Jazeera's Middle East coverage this week.

23 June 2023 This Week in the Middle East ­ This week, Israeli forces once again raided the refugee camp in Jenin, the city that has come to symbolise Palestinian resistance. Iran and the US may be in talks shrouded in secrecy. And the situation in Sudan gets yet more dire, with rights groups raising the alarm about a possible genocide. Here's the Middle East this week:   Why Jenin? It was a familiar headline: Israeli forces storm the Jenin refugee camp, ostensibly to arrest two suspects. What followed was a 20-year first: the use of helicopter gunships in the occupied West Bank. They pummelled the camp, killing seven Palestinians, including one minor, and injuring 91 others.   Watch: Child among the victims as Israeli forces raid Jenin camp   A large-scale military incursion on the Jenin camp has happened before. In 2002, a raid there killed 52 Palestinians. But that was a turning point for the camp, marking it as a symbol of resistance for Palestinians. Nowadays, what concerns Israel is that, in Jenin and elsewhere, young Palestinians are increasingly taking up arms, seeing no other way to alleviate the pressure of occupation.   Watch: Israel forces raid Jenin camp, killing five and wounding 91 A day after the deadly raid by Israeli troops, Palestinian gunmen killed four Israeli settlers at a petrol station between the Palestinian cities of Ramallah and Nablus. Hours after the shooting, Israeli settlers stormed through Palestinian towns, torching property and smashing cars — a Palestinian man was killed.    Watch: Gunmen kill four Israelis in occupied West Bank settlement But that wasn't all. Israeli forces then deployed a rare drone to raid a target they called a "terrorist cell" responsible for recent shootings, killing three people.   Are Iran and the US holding secret talks?  Long-time rivals Tehran and Washington are holding closed-door talks, with the US vying for the release of prisoners, and curbing Iran's nuclear programme, according to unnamed sources. Neither have gone public about the talks, but a short-term agreement is reportedly expected, rather than a revival of the 2015 deal.    Watch: Five years since US pull-out, Iran nuclear deal far from revival But what's in it for Iran? Well, any potential deal could ease Western sanctions imposed for violations of the 2015 accord, ease punitive measures by Washington and its allies and applied through the International Atomic Energy Agency, or it could spur the US to release billions of dollars in frozen Iranian assets.    In Sudan, things are certainly not looking better Intensified fighting in Sudan's West Darfur city of el-Geneina is raising alarm about the possible occurrence of a genocide. Thousands of people have fled the violence there in just the last week, violence targeting civilians and driven by militias from Arab nomadic tribes along with members of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.   Watch: Sudanese families separated as thousands flee to Chad But there's no respite for trying to escape. Sudanese citizens are being targeted by the militias even as they enter neighbouring Chad. A 72-hour ceasefire meant nothing for the people of Darfur, while its expiration was marked by fighting elsewhere in the country.     Hajj journeys offer hope and joy Millions of Muslims from around the world have embarked on the annual Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca. This year, Hajj will start on Monday, June 26, following the sighting of the moon, in Saudi Arabia, and the celebration of Eid al-Adha will occur on June 28. Here's a step-by-step guide on what happens during the occasion.   Watch: Disabled Syrians get ready for Hajj Life is hard in Syria, Yemen and Palestine's Gaza Strip, what with war and military occupations. But the journey of Hajj often inspires hope for those from these regions, many of whom save what little money they have for years, to be able to afford it. Four groups of pilgrims left Gaza this week. Meanwhile, pilgrims from northwestern Syria streamed through border crossings with Turkey. And Yemenis boarded the first direct flight to Saudi Arabia since 2016 for the pilgrimage.    A little something different, people being amazing In Jordan's water-scarce Mafraq region, a farming collective is transforming the lives of Syrian and Jordanian women. They're learning to grow the azolla plant, a cheaper and less labour-intensive feed for livestock that allows the women to become farmers and provide for their families. It's a lifesaving opportunity for refugees like Nisreen al-Eneze.   In the capital of Qatar, the city's glistening skyscrapers get a wipedown by Doha's "spidermen". Cleaning the windows of a 40-plus storey building is not for the faint-hearted, but the rigorously trained workers love the adventure of the job.   And for the second year in a row, Prince Abdulaziz, the son of the late Saudi King Fahd bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, has sponsored about 500 Syrian pilgrims injured in the war there to participate in the Hajj pilgrimage. He's known in northern Syria as Abu Turki – an alias he used to keep his philanthropy hidden until last year – and pays for the injured pilgrims' travel and accommodations, their travel documents and Hajj acceptance permits. Briefly  Sudan's war after two months: What you need to know. Protesters in Lebanon vandalise banks, demand their money back. In Gabes, Tunisia's artisanal fishers are watching fish die. Algeria's ex-prime minister, health minister get 5 years in prison. Libya 6+6 deal: Loopholes cast doubt on democratic elections    Quote of the Week  "When Ahmad was killed, I felt as though I lost one of my organs. He was the light of my eye. He was barely in the eighth grade. He used to help me with everything around the house and outside."  | Yousif Saqr, talking about his son, 15-year-old Ahmad Yousif Saqr, who was shot dead by Israeli forces during the raid on the Jenin refugee camp. ­ Follow Al Jazeera English on: ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ This email was sent to sami.bouguila.sami@blogger.com You've received it because you've subscribed to our newsletter. | View in browser | Contact Us | Unsubscribe © 2023 Al Jazeera Media Network Al Jazeera English, PO Box 23127 Doha - Qatar