JENIN: For the thirty-eighth consecutive day, the Israeli occupation continues its offensive against the city of Jenin and its camp, resulting in the deaths of 27 Palestinians and causing several injuries. The ongoing onslaught has also led to widespread destruction of infrastructure and local properties.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, Jenin governor Kamal Abu al-Rab reported that the offensive has inflicted heavy financial losses amounting to 20 million shekels per day, exacerbated by the continued closure of the Jalameh military checkpoint, which impedes the movement of Palestinians from within the 1948 territories. The governor expressed concern over the uncertain fate of approximately 6,000 students from the Arab American University, as the occupation has restricted their access to the institution, along with preventing workers from reaching their workplaces.
Abu al-Rab highlighted that the occupation seems intent on altering the camp's features, as evidenced by deliberate excavations 3 meters deep, purportedly for constructing towers around the camp. He further noted efforts to change the camp's layout by creating new streets and expanding existing ones, while demolishing entire neighborhoods. The forced evacuation of camp residents, he warned, is a prelude to a prolonged occupation within the camp.
Recent developments include the occupation forces taking measurements of the house of a slain Palestinian, Islam Khamisa, in preparation for its demolition. Additionally, the forces attacked young men near the Yahya Ayyash roundabout in Jenin, reinforced their presence with armored vehicles and bulldozers, and razed areas around the martyrs' cemetery in the camp.
The UNRWA Commissioner-General emphasized in a press statement that the West Bank resembles a battlefield, following the death of 50 civilians in five weeks due to the occupation's actions. He urged for an immediate cessation of hostilities, noting the severe repercussions from the Gaza conflict, with civilians bearing the brunt of the impact.
The continued offensive has seen homes set ablaze, roads bulldozed and expanded, and citizens prevented from retrieving essential items amid cold weather and the upcoming Ramadan. Displaced residents face ongoing hardship, fearing prolonged displacement during the holy month. Furthermore, local and international press crews have been barred from entering the camp to document the devastation and report on the occupation's actions against civilians. Abu al-Rab also mentioned that several houses and buildings have been repurposed as military points by the occupation forces.
