UPDATES WITH HEALTH MINISTRY STATEMENT ON DEATH TOLL IN TULKAREM
By Qais Abu Samra
TULKAREM CITY, Palestine (AA) - The Israeli army withdrew from the Nour Shams refugee camp in Tulkarem city in the northern occupied West Bank on Friday morning following a 30-hour offensive, which Tel Aviv described as a "military operation."
In a statement, the Palestinian Health Ministry said the Israeli large-scale offensive against the camp killed 13 Palestinians, including five children.
During the Israeli army offensive, it attacked a location in the camp with a drone, the eyewitnesses also said, adding that the Israeli forces left a large scale of destruction in the camp.
Before the Israeli army withdrawal, at least 10 Palestinians were detained.
Since the outbreak of fighting between Palestinian groups in Gaza and Israel on Oct 7, the death toll in the West Bank has risen to 75.
The conflict in Gaza, under Israeli bombardment and blockade since Oct. 7, began when Hamas initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, a multi-pronged surprise attack that included a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel by land, sea, and air. It said the incursion was in retaliation for the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and growing violence by Israeli settlers.
The Israeli military then launched Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip.
Gaza is experiencing a dire humanitarian crisis, with no electricity, while water, food, fuel, and medical supplies are running out.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for an “immediate humanitarian cease-fire” to ease the “epic human suffering.”
At least 3,785 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza, while the figure stands at more than 1,400 people in Israel.
*Writing by Ahmed Asmar in Ankara