The Occupation Continues to Demolish Homes in Tulkarem and Nur Shams Refugee Camps

SadaNews - Israeli occupation bulldozers continued, today Tuesday, to demolish residential buildings in Tulkarem and Nur Shams refugee camps, coinciding with the ongoing aggression of the occupation for the 156th consecutive day against the city and its camp, and the 143rd day against Nur Shams camp.

Local sources reported that the occupation bulldozers continued demolishing buildings in the camps amid intense military reinforcements, continuing previous demolition operations carried out over the past days and weeks in the neighborhoods of Al-Blawneh, Al-Akasha, Al-Nadi, Al-Sawalama, Al-Hamam, and schools in Tulkarem camp, and in the neighborhoods of Al-Manshiyya, Al-Maslakh, Al-Iyada, and Al-Jamii in Nur Shams camp.

This ongoing escalation came in implementation of a plan announced by the occupation authorities last May, involving the demolition of 106 buildings in both camps, including 58 buildings in Tulkarem camp alone, comprising more than 250 housing units and dozens of commercial establishments, in addition to 48 buildings in Nur Shams camp, under the pretext of opening roads and altering geographical features.

Yesterday, the occupation forces issued notices to demolish 104 homes and buildings in Tulkarem camp, under the pretext of military purposes, giving homeowners a period of 72 hours to evacuate their belongings starting from tomorrow Wednesday and throughout next week.

Meanwhile, the occupation forces continue to impose a tight siege on the camps and their surroundings, with the deployment of foot patrols and military vehicles in alleys and entrances, preventing citizens from reaching their homes or checking their properties, amidst live gunfire targeting anyone who approaches the area.

Concurrently, the city witnessed the deployment of foot patrolling units that roamed its main streets, specifically Nablus Street and the central market, obstructing the movement of citizens and vehicles, firing live ammunition and sound bombs at them, while military vehicles traversed the streets and neighborhoods, sounding their horns provocatively and driving against traffic, endangering citizens' lives.

The occupation forces still continue to turn Nablus Street into military barracks by persisting in seizing several residential buildings on it alongside parts of the northern neighborhood of the city, specifically facing Tulkarem camp and parts of the eastern neighborhood near the camp, after forcibly evicting its residents, some of whom have been under occupation control for over four months, accompanied by the deployment of heavy machinery and bulldozers in its vicinity.

This street, which serves as a linking point between Tulkarem and Nur Shams camps, has suffered significant damage due to the earth mounds established by the occupation forces several months ago, with a heavy presence of the occupation that is setting up temporary and surprise checkpoints, obstructing vehicle movement and exacerbating the citizens' suffering.

In the same context, the occupation forces continue to impose cumbersome procedures at the city entrances, especially the Anab military checkpoint east of Tulkarem, which they close almost permanently, preventing vehicles from passing, while occasionally establishing a temporary checkpoint at the Jabbar Bridge at the southern entrance to the city, further aggravating residents' suffering and complicating their daily movement.

This ongoing aggression has so far resulted in the martyrdom of 13 citizens, including a child and two women, one of whom was in the eighth month of pregnancy, in addition to dozens of injuries and detentions, and extensive destruction of infrastructure, homes, shops, and vehicles.

The escalation has led to the forced displacement of more than 5,000 families from the two camps, which amounts to over 25,000 citizens, and the total destruction of more than 500 homes completely, with 2,573 houses partially damaged, amid the continued closure of the camps' entrances with earth mounds, turning them into areas almost devoid of life.