Tulkarem, West Bank—Israel’s military has stepped up its large-scale operation in the occupied West Bank, leaving at least 16 Palestinians dead over two days, amid an operation that is drawing wide United Nations concern it may be inflaming an already sensitive situation.
West Bank Operation Intensifies The Israeli military on Wednesday conducted an all-out “counter-terrorism” operation targeting several towns and refugee camps in the northern West Bank. Targets involved Tulkarem, Tubas, and Jenin. The death toll has risen to 16 Palestinians according to both the Israeli military and the Palestinian health ministry.
On Thursday, seven militants were killed by Israeli forces, five of them in Tulkarem. One of the others killed was Muhammad Jaber, also known as Abu Shujaa, who officials identified as an Islamic Jihad commander in the Nur Shams refugee camp.
Gaza Raids Continue Amid Spikes in Conflict Violence The raids come at a time of intensified violence in the war-ravaged Gaza Strip as Israel continues military operations against Hamas militants. The World Health Organization confirmed that Israel agreed to three days of “humanitarian pauses” in Gaza as a vaccination drive takes place after the first confirmed case of polio in the territory.
These stoppages notwithstanding, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has made it clear that they do not amount to a ceasefire in the conflict that has raged since the October 7 attack by Hamas.
UN Calls for Immediate Cessation The UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called upon the parties to immediately stop military operations in the West Bank, noting that the situation is getting more dangerous by the day. The violence has caused extensive damage, especially in Tulkarem, where it has been documented that Israeli forces have turned homes into military posts-a cordon of sorts around medical facilities.
International Reactions and Humanitarian Concerns The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported heavy infrastructural damage in Tulkarem with destruction of streets and buildings. There are accounts of scenes of devastation after the withdrawal of Israeli forces in Al-Farra refugee camp in Tubas where several Palestinians including two teenagers were killed on Wednesday.
International leaders, including Jordan’s King Abdullah II and the Iranian foreign ministry, condemned the Israeli operations and called for a cease-fire to prevent further escalation.
Casualties and Humanitarian Impact Casualties on both sides have been heavy in this ongoing conflict. At least 637 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank – by either Israeli troops or settlers – since the outbreak of the Gaza war on Oct. 7, while 19 Israelis have died in Palestinian attacks or during military operations. The war has also devastated Gaza, where more than 40,602 people – mainly civilians – have died due to Israeli military operations, according to the health ministry in Gaza.
Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza The situation in the Gaza Strip has reached a critical point, with most of the 2.4 million residents repeatedly displaced, facing dire humanitarian conditions. Some of the displaced residents returned to their homes in Deir al-Balah on Wednesday, in central Gaza, to find the widespread destruction.
As the fighting rages on, hostages taken by Hamas back on October 7, their families are getting desperate and call for an end to violence that brought so much misery on all sides.
The West Bank operation that was carried out by the Israeli military triggered a huge humanitarian crisis with mounting casualties and widespread destruction. Things are very tense with international leaders appealing for a ceasefire.