Germany says Israel’s plans to keep army in Jenin refugee camp ‘unacceptable’

By Anadolu staff

BERLIN (AA) - Germany on Friday voiced concern over the Israeli military's continued offensive in the West Bank and emphasized that plans to maintain army presence in the Jenin refugee camp would be “unacceptable.”

Israel's “Iron Wall” military offensive, which began on Jan. 21, has displaced thousands of Palestinian civilians, prompting human rights organizations to warn that West Bank areas are “turning into mini-Gaza.”

The Foreign Ministry said that around 40,000 civilians had to leave their homes in Jenin, Tulkarem and Tubas refugee camps in the past weeks, 50 people have been killed and numerous others injured, including civilian casualties.

“We call on the Israeli government to better protect civilians and civilian infrastructure during the military operation and to ensure the return of the 40,000 people to their homes as quickly as possible,” the ministry said in the statement.

Referencing the 1993 Oslo Accords, the ministry underlined that according to the agreements, it is the Palestinian Authority's responsibility to ensure security in areas like Jenin, which are designated as “Area A.”

“The Israeli government's plans to keep the Israeli army in Jenin refugee camp in the long term are therefore unacceptable. Terrorism must be fought and this is the Palestinian Authority’s task in the Area A,” the ministry said.

The statement also emphasized that maintaining the Israeli army's presence in the West Bank undermines the Palestinian Authority's efforts to act as a legitimate representative of Palestinian interests.

“The Israeli actions further strengthen the occupation structures which must be dismantled in accordance with the International Court of Justice's opinion of July 19, 2024, and they further destabilize an already extremely fragile security environment,” the ministry said.