Israeli army’s new target: Refugee camps

According to the Israeli press, the Israeli army’s attacks in the north of the West Bank are now targeting refugee camps. The Israeli media reported that the Israeli army plans to dismantle refugee camps in the cities of Jenin and Tulkarm in the occupied West Bank. The Walla website stated that the biggest challenge faced by the Israeli army in the attacks launched in the north of the West Bank is dealing with the refugee camps that have turned into “fortified cities.” The report mentioned that when the army wants to carry out detention operations or assassinations in these areas, it has to infiltrate hidden forces into these camps, noting that armed Palestinian groups escape to nearby villages and hide. According to the report, it is indicated that the army needs to restore freedom of movement in these camps designed like “fortresses,” and therefore Major General Ali Belot, Commander of the Central Forces of Israel, decided that the refugee camps in Jenin and Tulkarm should be dismantled and turned into ordinary neighborhoods. The report also mentioned that the army has started advanced engineering work based on intelligence information aimed at building new roads in the camps and widening existing ones in this context. It was argued that this would provide multi-faceted access to the camps and prevent resistance from attempting to relocate in the area. “IRON WALL” ATTACK Following the ceasefire reached in Gaza on January 19, the Israeli army launched an attack named “Iron Wall” on January 21st in the city of Jenin and the refugee camp located in the north of the occupied West Bank. Subsequently, the attacks were expanded to include Tulkarm, Tubas, and the refugee camps in those areas. While continuing its occupation in the camps in Jenin and Tulkarm, the Israeli army destroyed nearly 100 buildings in these areas. Since October 7, 2023, Israeli attacks in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, where Israelis have been occupying Palestinian territories, have resulted in the deaths of 168 Palestinians, including 39 children, and approximately 7,000 people being injured.