Israeli defense minister orders army to stay in northern West Bank camps until year's-end

By Dilara Afifi and Ikram Kouachi

ISTANBUL (AA) - Israel’s defense minister has instructed the military to remain in refugee camps in the northern West Bank until at least the end of the year, he said Friday.

According to the Israel Hayom daily, defense chief Israel Katz said, “More than 40,000 people have been evacuated so far from the refugee camps of Jenin, Tulkarem, and Nur Shams," referring to Israeli soldiers forcing out the residents.

“I have directed security forces to remain in these refugee camps until at least the end of the year,” he added.

The Israeli military launched its latest offensive in the northern West Bank some 50 days ago, initially targeting the Jenin refugee camp before expanding operations to Tulkarem’s refugee camps, including Nur Shams, and later to Al-Far'a refugee camp in Tubas.

Local and international human rights groups report that Israeli forces have been forcing residents to leave their homes and have engaged in widespread demolition of houses and infrastructure in these camps.

Tension has been running high across the West Bank, where at least 930 Palestinians have been killed and nearly 7,000 others injured in attacks by the Israeli army and illegal settlers since the start of the Gaza war on Oct. 7, 2023, according to the Health Ministry.

In July, the International Court of Justice declared Israel’s long-standing occupation of Palestinian territories illegal, calling for the evacuation of all settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.