January 23, 2025 – The Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) condemns in the strongest terms the Israeli occupation forces’ (IOF) brutal assault on Jenin, in the north of the West Bank, which commenced on Tuesday, January 20, 2025. This unlawful military operation has so far resulted in the killing of 10 Palestinians, including 8 civilians, among them one child, the wounding of dozens more, and the forcible displacement of hundreds of residents from Jenin Refugee Camp.

PCHR warns that this assault, referred to as “The Iron Wall” by the Israeli military, marks the beginning of a dangerous escalation in the West Bank, particularly following the ceasefire in Gaza. The scale of this attack raises serious concerns about a high death toll, widespread destruction, and the risk of a catastrophic repetition of the genocidal violence previously seen in Gaza.

According to information gathered by PCHR’s field researchers, at approximately 12:15 PM on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, a special Israeli military unit, fully equipped in combat gear, infiltrated the western part of Jenin Refugee Camp, specifically targeting Al-Hadaf neighborhood.

The IOF deployed snipers on high-rise buildings, opened heavy fire, and launched a series of aerial bombardments. Within 20 minutes, reinforcements, including military vehicles and bulldozers from the Jalameh checkpoint north of Jenin, arrived, tightening the siege and shooting at anyone attempting to flee. Additional Israeli forces were also deployed from the Salem checkpoint, completely surrounding the camp.

As of now, Israeli forces are still storming Jenin city center and the camp, with reports of the demolition of roads and infrastructure. Several hours into the assault, the occupation forces demanded that the residents of the camp evacuate their homes, ordering groups of five Palestinians at a time to approach their positions for inspection. During this process, several civilians were arrested, forced to wear white jumpsuits, and taken to unknown locations.

PCHR warns that Israel is using the ceasefire in Gaza as a pretext to escalate violence in the West Bank. Israel’s current escalation is a direct violation of international law, including the unlawful use of excessive force and indiscriminate killings.

PCHR calls on the international community to take immediate and decisive action to halt Israel’s ongoing war crimes and to end the double standards in the application of international law. PCHR reiterates its call for the international community to hold Israeli officials accountable for their actions and to demand the immediate cessation of Israeli military operations targeting Palestinian civilians.

By PCHR