Palestinian youths run to avoid tear gas fired by Israeli forces during a raid in Nablus city amid a weeks-long assault in the occupied West Bank . AFP
Since 21 January, the Israeli occupation army has been storming the northern West Bank cities and refugee camps, focusing on Jenin, Tulkarm, and Tubas.
The ongoing offensive has led to the killing of at least 61 Palestinians, including women and children, the forced displacement of over 40,000 people, and the widespread destruction of homes and infrastructure.
Amid the devastation, Israeli authorities have signalled plans to expand the operation, prolong it indefinitely, and prevent displaced residents from returning to their homes.
On Tuesday, a young Palestinian man was shot dead by Israeli forces in Nablus, WAFA news agency reported.
Additionally, 30 people, including an infant, were injured after Israeli forces fired live bullets, stun grenades, and toxic tear gas at civilians near the western part of the city.
Wrecking machine
With its aggression ongoing, Israel has escalated its demolition of homes in the Tulkarm and Nur Shams refugee camps in the northern West Bank.
On Wednesday, the Israeli occupation forces issued demolition notices for 11 homes in the Nur Shams refugee camp, east of Tulkarm, WAFA added, citing local sources.
In recent days, more than 26 buildings in Tulkarm camp have been levelled to the ground by Israeli bulldozers. The demolitions have caused extensive damage to surrounding buildings and infrastructure.
In Jenin, the occupation assault entered its 36th consecutive day, with Israeli tanks rolling through the streets of Jenin refugee camp on Tuesday, according to Al Jazeera.
The Israeli army continued burning homes and forcibly displacing residents while deploying further military reinforcements to the city and its refugee camp.
Videos circulating on social media showed Israeli tanks moving through the Al-Jabariyat and Jabal Abu Dhahir neighbourhoods, with their gun barrels aimed at residential buildings.
Detentions campaign
According to the WAFA, the Israeli forces raided on Wednesday several West Bank cities, including Ramallah, Jericho, Qalqilya, Nablus, and Bethlehem, arresting several citizens.
Moreover, they detained dozens of citizens in Hebron, subjecting them to field interrogations after beating them.
In occupied Jerusalem, eyewitnesses reported that occupation forces stormed the areas surrounding the Qalandiya refugee camp and Kafr Aqab, firing stun grenades at civilians, obstructing traffic, and raiding commercial shops.
According to the Palestinian Prisoners’ Club, the Israeli army has detained over 360 Palestinians from the northern West Bank since the start of its assault, dubbed the "Iron Wall."
In total, Israel has detained more than 12,000 Palestinians from the West Bank since the beginning of its genocidal war on Gaza on 7 October 2023.
Annexation plans
On Monday, Palestinian group Islamic Jihad accused Israel of wanting to "annex the West Bank by force" after it deployed tanks into the occupied territory for the first time in decades.
Meanwhile, UN chief Antonio Guterres voiced alarm at rising violence by Israeli settlers and calls for annexation after Israel emptied three Palestinian refugee camps in the West Bank of their residents and barred them from return.
“I am gravely concerned by the rising violence in the occupied West Bank by Israeli settlers and other violations, as well as calls for annexation,” Guterres told the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva.
Additionally, the European Union pushed Israel over its crackdown in the West Bank at a meeting with the country's foreign minister in Brussels.
"We are closely watching developments, and cannot hide our concern when it comes to the West Bank," EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said, according to AFP.
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