On Tuesday, Israeli occupation forces continued their military escalation in Tulkarem, located in the northwestern part of the occupied West Bank, marking the 247th consecutive day of ongoing offensive.
Eyewitnesses report that Israeli soldiers have occupied numerous Palestinian homes in the Abu Safiya area, forcing residents to evacuate under armed threat.
The properties belong to dozens of members of the Abu Safiya family. When some attempted to return to retrieve personal belongings, they found the interiors ransacked, furniture and possessions smashed and thrown out of windows, while military vehicles remained stationed nearby.
The homes are owned by the families of the late Ibrahim Abu Safiya, as well as Afif, Aqel, Mahmoud, Khaled, and Taleb Abu Safiya.
A full blockade remains in place around the Tulkarem and Nur Shams refugee camps. Residents are barred from entering, and snipers have been positioned inside commandeered homes. Soldiers reportedly fire on anyone approaching the camps or moving in their vicinity.
An explosion was heard today in Nur Shams, but details remain unclear due to the ongoing siege.
Military reinforcements continue to arrive from Tulkarem’s western entrance, with armored vehicles obstructing traffic and moving against the flow on main roads.
The prolonged offensive has displaced over 5,000 families, more than 25,000 individuals, from the two refugee camps. Entrances remain sealed with barricades, rendering both areas devoid of civilian life.
Casualties include 14 fatalities, among them a child and two women, one of whom was eight months pregnant. Dozens more have been injured or detained. The offensive has also caused extensive damage to infrastructure, homes, businesses, and vehicles.
Since the beginning of this year, Israeli soldiers and paramilitary colonizers have killed 212 Palestinians, including 39 children and six women, in the occupied West Bank; 71 in Jenin, 38 in Nablus, 29 in Tubas, 17 in Tulkarem, 16 in Hebron, 15 in Ramallah, 9 in Bethlehem, 7 in Jerusalem, 6 in Qalqilia, 3 in Salfit and 1 in Jericho.
Since October 7, 2023, Israeli soldiers and paramilitary colonizers have killed 1047 Palestinians, including 212 children, 23 women, 1 journalist and 2 medics, in the West Bank; 295 Palestinians were killed in Jenin, 213 in Tulkarem, 130 in Nablus, 96 in Tubas, 93 in Hebron, 74 in Ramallah, 57 in Jerusalem, 39 in Qalqilia, 30 in Bethlehem, 13 in Jericho and 7 in Salfit.
