The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) continued their aggression on Tulkarem city and its camp for the 153rd consecutive day, and on Nour Shams camp for the 140th day, amid military reinforcements and continuous escalation .
Wafa news reported that the city of Tulkarem is witnessing intensive movements of occupation vehicles and infantry squads around the clock, especially in the middle of the market, and along Nablus Street, specifically adjacent to the Tulkarem and Nour Shams camps. These troop movements deliberately obstruct the movement of Palestinian citizens and vehicles. The army jeeps and APCs are frequently sounding their horns in a provocative manner, and driving against the traffic, endangering the lives of citizens.
Meanwhile, the occupation forces continue to impose a tight siege on the two camps and their surroundings, with infantry units, military vehicles, and heavy bulldozers deployed in the alleys and entrances, preventing residents from reaching their homes or checking on their property, amid direct gunfire targeting anyone approaching the area .
Over the past week, Nour Shams camp witnessed extensive demolition of dozens of buildings and residential units, completely destroying them. The attacks affected the neighborhoods of Al-Manshiya, Al-Maslakh, Al-Iyada, and Al-Jami’, and resulted in the creation of wide streets that separated the neighborhoods from each other .
Over the course of two consecutive weeks, Tulkarm camp witnessed the demolition of more than 50 buildings, affecting the neighborhoods of Balawneh, Akasha, Al-Nadi, Al-Sawalmeh, Al-Hammam, Al-Madaris, and their surroundings .
This ongoing escalation comes as part of a plan announced by the Israeli occupation authorities last May to demolish 106 buildings in both camps, including 58 buildings in Tulkarem camp alone, comprising more than 250 housing units and dozens of commercial establishments, in addition to 48 buildings in Nour Shams camp, under the pretext of opening roads and changing geographical features to destroy the Palestinian infrastructure as the Israeli military has done in Gaza for the past 21 months.
The escalation has led to the forced displacement of more than 5,000 families from the two camps, representing over 25,000 citizens, and the complete destruction of more than 500 homes, with 2,573 homes partially damaged. Meanwhile, the entrances to the two camps remain blocked with barriers, transforming them into almost lifeless areas .
Report from Tulkarem:
In this context, the occupation forces continue their crippling measures at the city’s entrances, especially the Anab military checkpoint east of Tulkarm, which the Israeli army has permanently closed, preventing vehicles from passing. They also periodically place a flying checkpoint at the Jabara Bridge at the city’s southern entrance, exacerbating the residents’ suffering and making their daily movement extremely difficult.
Meanwhile, the Israeli occupation forces continue to transform Nablus Street into a military barracks by continuing to seize a number of residential buildings there, along with parts of the city’s northern neighborhood, specifically those facing Tulkarem camp, after forcibly evacuating their residents. Some of these neighborhoods have been under Israeli occupation control for more than four months, accompanied by the deployment of heavy machinery and bulldozers in their surroundings.
Nablus Street, which serves as a link between the Tulkarem and Nur Shams refugee camps, has also suffered significant damage due to the earth mounds placed by the Israeli occupation forces several months ago, along with a heavy presence of occupation forces, who are setting up flying and surprise checkpoints, impeding the movement of vehicles and increasing the suffering of citizens.
Palestinian youth detained by Israeli soldiers today on Abu Safiya Street in Tulkarem:
The ongoing aggression has so far resulted in the deaths of 13 civilians, including a child and two women, one of whom was eight months pregnant. Dozens of people have been injured and arrested, and widespread destruction has affected infrastructure, homes, shops, and vehicles .
