JENIN / TULKAREM / PNN /
Israeli military forces have intensified systematic demolitions of homes and civilian infrastructure in the Palestinian governorates of Jenin and Tulkarem, including their refugee camps, amid international silence.
Destruction in Jenin
In Jenin, Israeli bulldozers carried out extensive leveling operations around the old cemetery in Jenin refugee camp and parts of the Al-Hadaf neighborhood in the city.
Local sources reported that Israeli forces had destroyed sections of the cemetery’s surroundings and begun demolition and excavation work in Al-Hadaf, adjacent to the camp.
Israeli reinforcements continued to pour into Jenin and its refugee camp as the military assault entered its 60th day. Two days ago, the Israeli army revealed plans to demolish 66 buildings across four neighborhoods within the camp.
Forced Evacuations and Military Takeover in Tulkarem
In Tulkarem, Israeli forces escalated military measures on Friday evening, ordering more residents in the city’s northern neighborhood, near Nablus Street, to evacuate their homes.
Evacuations targeted several buildings, including the Al-Waha, Al-Muhand, and Abu Al-Foul apartment complexes, as well as the Younis family home. Dozens of families were forced to leave their residences, given less than two hours to vacate before the buildings were turned into closed military zones.
Volunteer teams from the Palestinian Red Crescent and local committees rushed to assist families in evacuating, helping them salvage personal belongings before the deadline imposed by the Israeli forces expired.
The escalating measures are part of a broader Israeli campaign in Tulkarem, involving the seizure of residential buildings, particularly along Nablus Street and the adjacent northern neighborhood. Many of these properties are being converted into military outposts, displacing residents and exacerbating their suffering amid ongoing raids and a tightening siege.
Raids, Vandalism, and Arrests
Israeli forces also raided "Fawal Al-Sham," a popular restaurant on Nablus Street, vandalizing the premises, throwing food and oil onto the floor, and assaulting employees both verbally and physically.
Additionally, four Palestinians were detained in an Israeli raid on the Iktaba neighborhood east of the city. The detainees were identified as Mahmoud Alaria, Ahmed Alaria, Mohammed Alaria, and Salama Ibrahim Abu Asal, the latter a resident of Anabta who happened to be in the area at the time.
Road Closures and Vehicle Seizures
Israeli bulldozers further blocked sections of Nablus Street near the entrances to Tulkarem refugee camp with dirt mounds. Soldiers also confiscated several Palestinian vehicles traveling through the area, using them to block parts of the road after seizing their keys and detaining their owners.
In a further act of destruction, Israeli forces dismantled a traffic signal near Al-Firdous Mosque, uprooted decorative trees along the road, and intensified vehicle searches, imposing severe restrictions on residents’ movement.
These latest actions form part of a sustained military campaign across the occupied West Bank, which has seen an increase in home demolitions, forced displacements, and crackdowns on Palestinian communities.
