Israeli Army's Night Raid on Tulkarm: Clashes Erupt
The Israeli army conducted a significant night raid on the city of Tulkarm and the Balata camp in the northern occupied West Bank, leading to intense armed clashes with Palestinian resistance fighters. The Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades and the Youth of Revenge and Liberation reported that their fighters successfully targeted the Israeli forces with a heavy barrage of bullets, resulting in violent confrontations.
Ongoing Military Operations and Humanitarian Crisis
The official Palestinian news agency, WAFA, detailed that Israeli military vehicles, supported by heavy bulldozers, stormed Tulkarm from the western axis, bulldozing infrastructure in the Al-Alimi area. Eyewitnesses confirmed that clashes erupted between Palestinian gunmen and the Israeli army at the entrance of the Balata camp. This escalation follows a recent withdrawal of Israeli forces from Tulkarm and Jenin after a ten-day military operation, although operations in Jenin are reported to continue.
The Broader Context of Violence in Gaza and the West Bank
The Israeli military's actions in the West Bank coincide with its ongoing war in Gaza, which has led to significant casualties and a humanitarian disaster. Official Palestinian institutions report that over 692 Palestinians have been killed and about 5,700 injured in the West Bank alone, amidst increasing attacks by settlers. The situation in Gaza is dire, with over 135,000 casualties, primarily among women and children, and widespread destruction. Despite international calls for an immediate ceasefire, Israel persists in its military operations, disregarding UN resolutions and international legal orders aimed at preventing further violence and humanitarian suffering.
