
A Palestinian man walks past the Israeli army vehicles in a street during a military raid in Jenin, in the occupied West Bank. AFP
Coinciding with a fragile ceasefire in Gaza, the operations have led to a troubling rise in Israeli military actions and settler attacks, heightening insecurity, displacement, and severe restrictions on Palestinians' freedom of movement, the organization said.
The Israeli military operation, dubbed Iron Wall, began on Tuesday in the Jenin refugee camp and surrounding areas, resulting in dire humanitarian consequences.
Airstrikes and ground incursions have reportedly led to civilian casualties and extensive destruction.
According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, at least 12 Palestinians have been killed and 40 injured, including medical personnel.
In a report, Middle East and North Africa Regional Director for the NRC Angelita Caredda condemned the violence, noting: “We are seeing disturbing patterns of unlawful use of force in the occupied West Bank that is unnecessary, indiscriminate, and disproportionate. This echoes the tactics Israeli forces have employed in Gaza.”
Caredda emphasized that, under international law, Israel must expedite the end of its occupation of Palestinian territory and fulfil its obligations as an occupying power, particularly in protecting civilians.
An increase in Israeli checkpoints, roadblocks, and other physical barriers throughout the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, has exacerbated the situation, added the NRC.
These measures further fragment Palestinian communities, restrict access to essential services, and hinder humanitarian agencies, like the NRC, from reaching those in need.
The escalation of violence comes as the Palestinian Authority attempts to reassert control in Jenin, targeting militant groups.
However, Israeli military and Palestinian Authority operations have resulted in extensive damage to critical infrastructure, severe movement restrictions, and disruptions to essential services, according to the NRC.
As of 15 January, approximately 75 percent of Jenin’s 13,400 residents have been displaced, deepening an already critical humanitarian crisis, added the report.
This surge in violence reflects a broader trend. In 2023, Israel resumed airstrikes in the occupied West Bank for the first time since the Second Intifada, conducting 152 airstrikes by 2024, with 82 targeting densely populated refugee camps.
The previous year saw a deadly toll, with Israeli forces and settlers killing 499 Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. Additionally, Israeli demolitions reached a record high, with 1,768 structures destroyed — 50 percent more than in 2023.
A quarter of these demolitions occurred during military operations, primarily in northern refugee camps.
Settler violence has also surged to unprecedented levels, with 1,420 incidents reported in 2024, resulting in casualties or property damage, a 16 percent increase from the previous year. Five Palestinians were killed, and over 300 families were forcibly displaced as settlers attacked under the protection of Israeli forces, according to the report.
“Impunity for serious violations of international law has allowed Israel to unlawfully escalate violence in the occupied West Bank,” Caredda stated.
“The international community must take decisive action to stop these violations and end the occupation.”
Since the war on Gaza began on 7 October 2023, the Palestinian health ministry reports that Israeli troops or settlers have killed at least 870 Palestinians and injured over 6,700 in the West Bank.
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