Tulkarem Governor Abdullah Kamil said on Sunday that the Israeli occupation’s decision to extend its military offensive on the residents of the Tulkarem and Nur Shams refugee camps, in the northwestern West Bank, until the end of March 2026 reflects a policy of defiance toward the international community and human rights institutions, and constitutes a blatant violation of international humanitarian law and human rights conventions.
Kamil stressed that the prolonged onslaught is deepening the humanitarian crisis, particularly amid the ongoing forced displacement of camp residents, the systematic destruction of infrastructure, widespread home demolitions, and extensive damage affecting all aspects of civilian life.
He renewed his call on the international community, human rights organizations, diplomatic missions, and all relevant bodies to take urgent and serious action to pressure the occupation authorities to halt their ongoing violations against the people of Tulkarem Governorate, especially in the Tulkarem and Nur Shams refugee camps.
Kamil highlighted the severe humanitarian and economic conditions facing displaced families, noting the long‑term negative impact these conditions have had on the broader situation in the governorate.
He emphasized that the objectives of the Israeli assault are political and part of a broader plan aimed at undermining the Palestinian national project.
The governor affirmed that the Palestinian people remain committed to confronting these policies and advancing toward freedom and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital. He called on citizens to remain steadfast and united in the face of the occupation government’s plans and those of its colonizers.
The Israeli occupation army claims that its onslaught in the Tulkarem and Nur Shams refugee camps is aimed at what it described as “armed groups” and “operational infrastructure.”
The army asserted that it is continuing operations to “locate weapons, dismantle explosive devices, and prevent future attacks,” and that the camps serve as “centers of activity” for Palestinian resistance groups.
Officials of Israel’s occupation army also claimed that extending the onslaught is necessary to maintain “long‑term security control” and prevent what they described as “the re‑establishment of armed networks.” These claims have been widely rejected by Palestinian officials and human rights organizations, who argue that the Israeli narrative is used to justify large‑scale destruction, forced displacement, and collective punishment.
The Israeli offensive on Tulkarem and Nur Shams began in 2023 and intensified after October 7, evolving into a continuous, open‑ended military campaign. Since then, more than 160 Palestinians have been killed and over 1,200 injured in the governorate, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health and UN OCHA.
The prolonged assault has displaced thousands of residents, destroyed large sections of both camps, and caused widespread damage to infrastructure, homes, and essential services.
Since October 7, 2023, occupation forces have killed 1,110 Palestinian citizens in the West Bank, including 230 children and 24 women, with the highest number of casualties recorded in Jenin, followed by Tulkarem.
In the Jenin governorate, 310 Palestinians have been killed, while 213 were killed in Tulkarem, 141 in Nablus, 107 in Hebron, 98 in Tubas, 82 in Ramallah, 61 in Jerusalem, 42 in Qalqilia, 35 in Bethlehem, 13 in Jericho and the Jordan Valley, and 8 in Salfit.
