Watan-The Israeli occupation forces have continued demolition operations in Nur Shams refugee camp, east of Tulkarm in the northern occupied West Bank, since Saturday morning. The demolitions target around 30 residential units inside the camp, after residents were forced to evacuate their homes days earlier.
Activist Nihaya Al-Jundi stated that the demolitions follow days after Israeli forces issued notices to demolish 11 residential buildings, comprising around 30 units. The occupation allowed residents to evacuate under coercion in preparation for the demolitions.
In a further escalation, the Israeli forces forcibly displaced the remaining families in the camp today, removing them from their homes in the Jabal Al-Nasr area within the camp—an action that aims to empty the area of its residents, according to Al-Jundi.
Israeli Forces Demolish Homes in Nur Shams Camp
Nihad Al-Shawish, head of the Popular Committee in Nur Shams camp, stated in a phone call with Anadolu Agency that “several military bulldozers stormed the Al-Manshiyya neighborhood, began bulldozing its roads, and started demolishing 11 houses stretching from the camp square through the Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq neighborhood, Al-Jami’ neighborhood, and up to Al-Manshiyya.”
Al-Shawish explained that “the occupation forced residents around Nur Shams camp to evacuate their homes under the pretext of carrying out large explosions.” He added, “It is unclear what the Israeli army is doing inside the camp or what it intends to do, but sounds of gunfire and explosions are heard from time to time.” According to him, “The occupation forced all camp residents—approximately 9,000 people—to flee, in addition to 3,000 others living in the camp’s surrounding areas, who were also forced to leave their homes recently.”
On Wednesday, the official Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that “the occupation forces plan to demolish 11 houses in Nur Shams camp under the pretext of opening a road from the camp square towards Al-Manshiyya neighborhood.” The agency, citing local sources, added that the Israeli army warned homeowners of the targeted buildings to evacuate their essential belongings.
Days earlier, Israeli tanks stormed Jenin refugee camp in a military escalation described as the most intense since 2002.
Hamas Warns Against Ongoing Violations in West Bank
The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) warned of the consequences of continued international silence on the crimes committed by the occupation government against the Palestinian people. Hamas called on the United Nations and its institutions to take immediate and effective action to stop the occupation’s violations. In a statement on Telegram, Hamas said that the occupation’s demolition of homes and buildings in Nur Shams camp, along with the forced displacement of its residents, constitutes a serious violation of international law and a continuation of war crimes. Hamas added that “the fascist occupation army’s aggression in the West Bank is nothing but desperate and failed attempts that will not succeed in breaking the will of resistance among our people.”
The Israeli occupation continues its aggression on Jenin camp for the 40th consecutive day, while its assault on Tulkarm city and its camp has entered its 34th day. Meanwhile, Nur Shams camp has been under attack for the 21st day in a row, with Israeli forces also storming towns and camps in Jenin and Tubas for several days.
The Israeli military escalation has forced tens of thousands of families to flee the camps amid widespread destruction. Since the launch of the “Iron Wall” offensive, which began on January 21 in Jenin and later expanded to several cities and camps, the number of martyrs in the West Bank has reached 63, in addition to dozens of injuries and hundreds of arrests.
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