On Monday, January 27, one week after launching its deadly “Iron Wall” operation in Jenin in the northern occupied West Bank, Israel expanded its raids to Tulkarm city, located 48 km southwest of Jenin.
Vehicles of the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) reportedly stormed different neighborhoods and towns across Tulkarm, patrolled its main streets, and stationed themselves in front of the Martyr Dr. Thabet Thabet Governmental Hospital and the Al-Israa Specialty Hospital. Medical crews were subjected to searches and field interrogations.
On Monday, the IOF struck a vehicle with a drone missile near Nur Shams refugee camp, east of Tulkarm, killing two young men and injuring a number of others. The victims were identified as Ramzi Bassam Dumeiri (24), and Ihab Mohammed Etewy (23).
Later that day, Palestinian resistance fighters ambushed Israeli soldiers in the Tulkarm refugee camp, injuring many of them. Heavy clashes between the IOF and the fighters continue to take place in the city.
On Tuesday, January 28, IOF soldiers opened fire on civilians, injuring three Palestinians including a minor and a journalist in the city of Tulkarm.
Israel kills a toddler in Jenin as the operation continues in northern West Bank
Two days before expanding the bloody incursion into Tulkarm, the IOF shot dead Palestinian toddler Laila al-Khatib (two and a half years old) during a raid in the Triangle of Martyrs (Muthalath al-Shuhadaa) in Jenin on Saturday, January 25, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.
Laila was shot in the head and subsequently transferred to the hospital, where she succumbed to her critical injury. One woman also sustained serious injuries to her head and hand during the same raid.
The IOF committed two other tragic murders in Jenin and Tulkarm late Tuesday. Omar Abu Al-Haija (25) was killed in an Israeli drone strike in the Cinema Roundabout area in the center of Jenin city. At the same time, the IOF shot dead Ayman Naji (23) during a violent raid on Irtah suburb, south of Tulkarm.
IOF wreaks havoc and displaces thousands in Tulkarm and Jenin
The IOF has killed dozens of Palestinians in the West Bank since it started the “Iron Wall” operation. It has also been systematically destroying infrastructure, blowing up and demolishing houses in both Tulkarm and Jenin and their refugee camps. Thousands of Palestinians have been displaced from their houses during the operation.
Jenin Mayor Mohammad Jarrar told reporters that around 15,000 people were forced to flee their homes and areas in Jenin refugee camp during the ongoing Israeli operation. Jarrar also stated that 30 to 40 homes in Jenin were destroyed by the IOF, while hundreds of others were partially damaged.
Over the last couple days, dozens of families were forced to flee their homes in Tulkarm refugee camp at gunpoint, according to media reports. The mass destruction of water, electricity, internet, and sewage networks was also reported, as Israeli bulldozers swept through the streets of Tulkarm refugee camp. Several houses and shops were destroyed.
Furthermore, the IOF took control of a number of buildings inside the camp and in its vicinity, turned them into military barracks and stationed snipers on their rooftops.
Death toll rises in the West Bank amid Gaza ceasefire
After 15 months of Israeli aggression, the IOF continued to massacre Palestinians on both sides of their tattered territories; the occupied West Bank and the besieged Gaza strip.
Although a ceasefire in the Gaza strip took effect on January 19, the mass killing of Palestinians in the West Bank has not stopped.
Israel’s recent operation reportedly raised the death toll of Palestinians in the West Bank to 884 with 7,370 others wounded, and at least 14,400 detained, since October 7, 2023.
