Thousands of Palestinians Flee Refugee Camps in West Bank Due to Israeli Offensive

Thousands of Palestinians Flee Refugee Camps in West Bank Due to Israeli Offensive

Jerusalem: Tens of thousands of Palestinians living in refugee camps in the West Bank have been forced to leave their homes due to a weeks-long Israeli operation that has resulted in the destruction of homes and vital infrastructure, according to Palestinian authorities.

Israeli forces began their operation in the refugee camp in the northern West Bank city of Jenin on January 21, deploying hundreds of soldiers and bulldozers to demolish houses and dig up roads, which led to almost all of the camp's residents being driven out.

Mohammed Al-Sabbagh, head of the Jenin camp services committee, said, "We don't know what's happening in the camp, but there is continuous destruction and roads are being dug up."

Israeli forces have claimed that their operation aims to thwart Iranian-backed militant groups in the West Bank. The operation has since spread to other camps, notably the Tulkarm refugee camp and the nearby Nur Shams camp, both of which have been devastated. The camps, originally built for the descendants of Palestinian refugees who fled their homes during the 1948 war surrounding the creation of Israel, have long been major centers for armed militant groups.

According to figures from the Palestinian Authority, around 17,000 people have left the Jenin refugee camp, leaving the site almost completely deserted. Additionally, 6,000 people have fled from the Nur Shams camp, and around 10,000 have left from the Tulkarm camp.

Nihad Al-Shawish, head of the Nur Shams camp services committee, said, "The ones who are left are trapped. Civil Defense, the Red Crescent, and Palestinian security forces brought them some food yesterday, but the army is still bulldozing and destroying the camp."

Israeli forces have demolished dozens of houses and torn up roads, cutting off water and power supplies, but they have denied forcing residents to leave their homes.

Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani told reporters, "People obviously have the possibility to move or go where they want if they wish. But if they don't, they are allowed to stay."

The operation began when Israel decided to expel the main headquarters of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) from East Jerusalem. UNRWA has been providing food aid and other services to Palestinians in refugee camps in the West Bank and Gaza.