UN refugee agency chief calls for immediate protection of Palestinian civilians in West Bank amid Israeli offensive

By Rania Abu Shamala

ISTANBUL (AA) – The chief of the UN Agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA) called Tuesday for the protection of Palestinian civilians amid a deadly Israeli offensive in the northern West Bank.

“For more than six days now, Jenin has been ravaged by violence + destruction. This is causing loss of life and injuries, including among civilians + severe damage to infrastructure,” UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini said on X.

“I call for the immediate protection of civilians across the West Bank, including in the north,” he added.

The Israeli army launched a major military operation in the northern West Bank on Wednesday, the largest in two decades, killing at least 30 people and causing massive destruction in the area.

“Residents have limited access to food, water and medicine,” Lazzarini said, adding that UNRWA is working with partners to deliver urgently needed aid to residents.

The Israeli offensive came amid rising tensions in the occupied territory as Israel pressed ahead with its brutal onslaught on the Gaza Strip, which has killed more than 40,800 Palestinians, mostly women and children, since Oct. 7 last year.

At least 683 people have since been killed and over 5,700 others injured by Israeli fire in the West Bank, according to the Health Ministry.

The escalation followed a landmark opinion by the International Court of Justice on July 19 that declared Israel's decades-long occupation of Palestinian land unlawful and demanded the evacuation of all settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.