Category: Reports

Huge Destruction Suffered by Nur Shams Refugee Camp

*Tulkarm – Nur Shams Refugee Camp*
June 9, 2024
By Diana Khwaelid*

At midnight on June 9, occupation forces stormed the city of Tulkarm and stationed themselves in the Nur Shams camp, northeast of Tulkarm. A military operation that lasted for more than 13 continuous hours ensued, during which the Israeli occupation forces vandalized and destroyed the camp on the orders of Israeli military officials.

According to the residents of the camp, “this incursion was the most difficult and dangerous of the Israeli military incursions,” despite the exposure of the residents of Nur Shams camp to dozens of previous incursions.

Dozens of Israeli military vehicles stormed the camp and the Manshiyeh neighborhood. D9 and 5 bulldozers sabotaged and destroyed the main road of the camp, Nablus Street. They also destroyed the camp’s infrastructure, including the water network and power lines.

Dozens of shops were damaged, including a pharmacy, restaurants, and private shops for cellular devices. Many Palestinian homes were destroyed as a result of the vandalism and destruction of the camp.

The Israeli occupation forces conducted the destruction accompanied by military vehicles, especially bulldozers, while Palestinian civilians, including women and children, were inside their homes. The occupation forces did not ask or care about those inside the houses or whether they were physically harmed.

Medical and Palestinian Civil Defence crews rushed to the camp immediately after the withdrawal of military vehicles at around 3 pm, following more than 13 hours of continuous destruction. The medical staff stated that they had not received any reports or dealt with any injuries inside the camp. It was like a miracle that the occupation entered and left without causing physical injuries.

Palestinians inside the camp said: “في المال ولا في العيال”, good it happened “to the money and not to the families,” meaning that at least the destruction was only to material things (homes, streets, and camps) and no life was taken. 

After the Israeli Hebrew media published a special report on Tulkarm, especially the Nur Shams camp, Israeli news agencies, citing Israeli security sources, stated that the city of Tulkarm, particularly the refugee camps, must end. According to the statements of the Israeli army, “Tulkarm city is a city of terrorism.”

The people of the Nur Shams refugee camp refused to leave the camp. The majority decided to stay, no matter what happened. A Palestinian survivor whose house was destroyed said, “I will build a better house than the one destroyed by the occupation.”

The Israeli occupation forces continue to carry out incursions, destruction, murder, and arrests in the West Bank, especially in the city of Tulkarem.

Nur Al Shams resident: the camp has become a ‘microcosm of Gaza’

By International Solidary Movement
Ramallah, July 4, 2024

Over the past three days, Nur Shams refugee camp has faced intense fear and sadness due to recent bombings and killings by Israeli forces. The latest raid targeted four Palestinian youths, marking the fourth consecutive day of violence.

On July 2nd, at around 10:30 p.m., Israeli forces carried out an airstrike in the camp, east of Tulkarm. Four palestinian fighters were killed. The attack involved a drone strike. The Palestinian Ministry of Health confirmed the deaths of Yazid Shafa (22), Nimr Hamarshah (25), Muhammad Shehada (20), and Muhammad Knuh (22). The camp is in mourning, with continued incursions aiming to suppress any form of resistance.

A resident described the situation as a microcosm of Gaza, with continuous incursions, demolitions, shelling, arrests, and killings over the past year and a half, escalating after the recent war on Gaza.

The camp has endured over 30 incursions to date. The death toll in Tulkarm has reached 122 since October 7. The residents of Nur Shams camp are in deep sorrow, feeling unsafe amid ongoing military operations.

This is a photo of the remains of the rocket or shell that was fired at Palestinians 4
This is a photo of the remains of the rocket or shell that was fired at palestinians

Violence Erupts in Massafer Yatta: Illegal Settlers Attack Villagers and Destroy Property

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Violence Erupts in Massafer Yatta: Illegal Settlers Attack Villagers and Destroy Property

By Dottie Lux, International Solidary Movement
Masafer Yatta, July 4, 2024

— A wave of violence swept through the village of Khalet Al Daba’a in Masafer Yatta as settlers launched a series of attacks on local palestinians, culminating in severe injuries, destruction of property, and the abduction of a palestinian by israeli forces.

Around midnight, up to 200 settlers initiated their assault by setting fire to olive, grape, and fig trees, vital sources of livelihood for the villagers. The violence escalated rapidly as settlers began shooting live ammunition directly at local palestinians, creating a scene of chaos and fear. In a brutal display of aggression, settlers beat villagers with sticks and one palestinian was subsequently taken by israeli forces. The violence did not end in Khalet Al Daba’a.

The settlers moved to the nearby area of Um Fagarah, where they continued their rampage by destroying three vehicles including the fire truck sent there to control the damage. They physically assaulted more villagers and prevented ambulances from delivering aid.

These violent acts occurred under the supervision of the occupation police and army, who did not intervene to stop the onslaught. As a result of this aggression, several palestinians have been injured along with two international volunteers. With the community reeling from the impact of this unprovoked brutality the situation remains tense. Local leaders and concerned internationals are calling for immediate local and international attention. Most imporatantly they are asking for intervention to prevent further carnage and ensure the safety and security of the residents of Masafer Yatta. This press release highlights the urgency and gravity of the situation, calling for immediate attention and intervention. Further details are to follow.

Israeli Occupation Kills Two During Second Consecutive Raid in Tulkarem

By Diana Khwaelid

Tulkarem – July 1, 2024

Israeli occupation forces (IOF) killed two Palestinians, a woman and a child, during their second consecutive raid in the city of Tulkarem, on July 1.

According to the Palestinian Health Organization, a 46-year-old Palestinian woman and a 15-year-old child, Mohammed Sarhan, were killed during the raid on Tulkarem refugee camp. Mohammed was standing near the Shuwaika roundabout, far from the camp, when an Israeli sniper shot him as the army was withdrawing. The occupation also bombed a house in the camp.

Dozens of Israeli military vehicles, including D9 bulldozers, stormed the city of Tulkarm in the northern West Bank in the early hours of Monday. The siege was centred first in the Nur Shams refugee camp, northeast of the town, and the Tulkarm refugee camp.

Nur Shams camp was stormed for 10 hours, with the destruction of the main street leading to the camp and the main entrance to the camp. Occupation forces also destroyed water networks and infrastructures and dozens of shops overlooking the street near the camp were fully or partially destroyed.

The Israeli army also bombed another Palestinian house with an aerial bombardment: the house belonged to one of the most famous and largest families in the camp. Palestinian civil defence and medical teams only managed to enter the camp and reach the site after occupation forces withdrew, as the army prevented ambulances to reach the injured.

The Nur Shams refugee camp has been subjected to at least 30 raids since October 7 and is considered one of the most dangerous camps in the West Bank after the Jenin camp, according to Israeli media sites.

The fierce incursions carried out by the Israeli occupation in the camp, especially after October 7, made the residents of the camp feel constant fear, and dozens of Palestinian families who had grown up in the camp since childhood had to leave the camp to protect their children and women.

The death toll in the city of Tulkarm has risen to 118 since October 7.

Occupation forces storming Tulkarem

“It’s our land and we don’t want to go anywhere else”: Jordan Valley Activist brutally Attacked by Occupation Forces

01 July 2024 | International Solidarity Movement | Jordan Valley

Ayman’s car destroyed by occupation bulled on June 24.

 

June 29 began like any other for Ayman Ghraib’s, 41, who is an activist from the village of Tamoun, north-east of Nablus.

Ayman was scheduled to film with Al Jazeera about illegal settlements, settler attacks and confiscation of land and water in the Jordan Valley, sharing his stories of attacks from settlers and the occupation army.

The filming was supposed to be in a symbolic area of the valley and Ayman was travelling in his friend’s car as his car was destroyed by occupation forces, who slashed the tyres and put sand in the engine.

Ayman reports arriving around 12:00 p.m. As usual, he said, they were stopped at a checkpoint by the occupation soldiers and asked to get out of the car. Al Jazeera crew was on the other side waiting and when they saw the occupation soldiers holding him, they went to the barrier and started filming. The soldiers told the crew to leave as Ayamin would be released shortly.

The sun was burning, and the temperature was about 40 degrees Celsius, and Ayman reported starting to collapse and telling the officer in charge that he has heart and breathing problems. The office laughed and said, “I’m not a seven-year-old boy, I don’t believe what you’re saying.”

After more than two hours of detention, the symptoms of the sun’s heat began to increase, with severe headache, and body pain made it difficult to breathe until Ayman fell on the ground. The officers, who refused to call an ambulance, started to kick and punch him and hit him with the butts of their guns, while shouting nasty words. He felt that he was going to lose consciousness, when the soldiers poured ice water on his head: he felt like he was being electrocuted. They opened his mouth and poured water in his throat and nose until he almost choked. While he was getting lot worse, the soldiers moved Ayman in his friend’s car and told him to help, going every now and then to pour ice water on his head: every time it was a shock.

Soldiers also took Ayman’s phone, taking pictures of materials on it and then finally released them. He arrived home completely exhausted and received the needed first aid.

Ayman said: “This is not the first time that I have been subjected to similar attacks by the occupation army, in addition to having been imprisoned more than once. Every time I am charged with crimes, I had not committed any violent act against the army or settlers.

“All I can say is that I closely film violation towards the inhabitants of the Jordan Valley and spread through social media the confiscation of land and water and the suffering of the inhabitants of the Valley from Israel’s policy of displacement against them.”

Ayman reported that settlers spread his photographs and publicly incite to kill him, asking the army to arrest him. He has also received death threats from settlers. Several of his friends who had transported him around have been attacked and harassed and had their cars damaged by the occupation army.

Ayman said: “I’m not inciting against anyone, just fighting for my people to have land and water before they’re all confiscated for the benefit of the settlers. It’s our land and we don’t want to go anywhere else, and we don’t want settlers to replace us.”