After over eleven days of relentless Israeli aggression, Tulkarem refugee camp, in Tulkarem city, in the northwestern part of the occupied West Bank remains under extensive Israeli military aggression, destruction, forced displacement, and profound humanitarian distress.
The siege imposed since day one has not only sealed off the refugee camp’s main entrances and roads but has also immobilized everyday life under the watch of countless snipers.
The aggressive measures taken by the occupation forces have transformed bustling streets and alleys into a bleak landscape of demolition and despair.
آثار العملية العسكرية الإسرائيلية بمخيم طولكرم #الجزيرة #فيديو pic.twitter.com/7AodkXgdG3
— الجزيرة فلسطين (@AJA_Palestine) February 6, 2025
The assault saw the use of explosives and heavy machinery to raze homes, eroding the refugee camp’s already fragile infrastructure and obliterating both public and private properties. This ruthless onslaught has exacerbated the suffering of the remaining residents.
The scale of displacement is staggering, with thousands coerced into abandoning their homes at gunpoint.
Governor Abdullah Kamil reports that 85% of the refugee camp’s population has been forcibly evicted, with the latest figures indicating about 10,450 individuals—2,105 families—uprooted, leaving only 400 families behind. Displaced families have sought refuge in various neighborhoods and towns across the governorate.
Al-Rashid neighborhood in Thannaba suburb now shelters 300 individuals, while 2,500 have moved to the suburbs of Abu Bilal, Abu Yassin, and Ektaba. Others have found temporary homes in areas like Al-Azab, Shweika, Ertah, and various neighborhoods within Tulkarem city.
Efforts to support the displaced are ongoing, spearheaded by the “Dignity and Relief Committee,” which is tirelessly working to provide essentials such as mattresses, blankets, food, medicines, baby supplies, and more.
Faisal Salama, head of the Popular Committee for Tulkarem Refugee Camp Services, described the deteriorating conditions.
He stated that the refugee camp now stands as a stark scene of destruction, with around 300 buildings, including homes and apartments, fully or partially destroyed, and nearly 2,000 homes damaged.
The humanitarian crisis is dire, as the camp remains under siege, preventing humanitarian aid from reaching those in need.
The remaining 3,000 to 4,000 residents face constant threats and severe shortages of necessities due to the collapse of essential services.
The aggression has resulted in the killing of four Palestinians, including three from the refugee camp, and over 25 injuries.
The Israeli army also abducted dozens of Palestinians and conducted field interrogations of numerous Palestinians, adding to the community’s suffering.
Ibrahim al-Nimr from the Palestinian Prisoners’ Society highlights the extensive abduction campaigns targeting over 100 citizens, including the sick and wounded. Among the abductees is Mohammad Tayseer Omran, who was taken from a hospital emergency room while receiving treatment for a previous injury.
