Diana Khwaelid
The Israeli occupation forces have tightened the siege and restriction on the city of Tulkarem more than it was originally tightened seven months in a row, and the city of Tulkarem is under the control and incursion of Israeli forces, especially the Palestinian refugee camps. Tulkarem refugee camp is “the second largest refugee camp in the West Bank and Nur Shams camp.” According to Palestinian sources such as the Palestinian Center for Human Rights, more than 90% of the camp residents were forcibly displaced from the camp . They left their homes, leaving behind everything they owned. Some of them are living in shelters under the
supervision of the Palestinian Authority until they return to their homes immediately after the end of the military operation. Some of them live in a rented house outside the walls and perimeter of the camp.
Israel is trying to justify its act and crime of displacing the population, destroying houses infrastructure, shops, killing and arresting Palestinians under the pretext or excuse that Israel carried out this operation in an attempt to eliminate Palestinian armed groups. But in fact, through this operation, Israel is trying to destroy the so-called Palestinian refugee camps, being the witness to the massacres of the Nakba and the only evidence of the Nakba war when in 1948 the Palestinians were forcibly displaced from their native lands and the Israeli government was established on the blood and bones of the Palestinian people at that time.
The Palestinians in the city of Tulkarm are living in difficult conditions that are not comparable to any previous political conditions. According to them, they are living through the most difficult stage and era that has ever passed for the Palestinian people and the Palestinian cause. Since September 11th, the Israeli forces have been concentrated in the city of Tulkarm and the camps. The explosion of an Israeli military vehicle near the tsanoz checkpoint, one of the military points belonging to Israel, led to the injury of two Israeli soldiers. A campaign of arrests of dozens of Palestinian youths at various times during the day and evening, especially in the eastern neighborhood of Tulkarm city. Later it turned out that the Israeli forces released most of them.
The army also broke into the homes of Palestinians and broke into their property and the property of shop owners. It also imposed a curfew and carried out a campaign of arrests and arrests of any citizen who moves. After intensive efforts of the Palestinian Association, an agreement was reached to lift the curfew.
I have watched the Palestinians today moving cautiously. They try as much as possible not to clash with the Israeli forces for fear of being arrested, detained, interrogated, or even attacked. The residents of Tulkarm are living in a state of terror and fear, they are anxiously waiting for the military operation to end. The Israeli incursion has extended into the city, camps, some areas and villages.
Israel is taking advantage of what is happening in Gaza by imposing its control over large parts of the West Bank. It is in its first steps to implement the E1 settlement project. Has Israel succeeded in imposing its full control over the cities of the West Bank? What we see in reality are attacks, break-ins, almost daily arrest campaigns, and demolition notices in Masafer Yatta and the Jordan Valley. It is clear that Israel is trying very hard to impose its control, as it announced earlier.
The Palestinians have been drained of everything they have economically, politically and socially. Will they stand up to Israel’s grand plans, which in turn would end the Palestinian cause?
