As the Israeli military attack on Tulkarem and its refugee camps enters its 45th day in a row, the already dire humanitarian situation has gotten worse due to an unprecedented escalation.
The Israeli occupation forces have imposed a suffocating siege on Tulkarem, Nur Shams, and Tulkarem refugee camps, conducting daily raids, arbitrary arrests, and forcibly displacing civilians in a systematic campaign of collective punishment.
This morning, several families in Jabal Al-Nasr neighbourhood of Nur Shams camp were forcibly evicted from their homes, a move that underscores Israel’s persistent use of forced displacement, a practice explicitly prohibited under international law.
In parallel, Israeli bulldozers have levelled infrastructure along Nablus Street, while military forces have converted civilian homes into military outposts, depriving residents of their right to safe housing, in clear violation of fundamental human rights.
The scale of violence against civilians has been horrific. Israeli forces have killed at least 13 Palestinians, including a child and two women, one of whom was pregnant. Dozens more have been injured and detained, amid brutal acts of humiliation, where Palestinians have been forced to strip, subjected to public beatings, and systematically harassed.
Israeli military vehicles have swept through neighbourhoods, setting homes ablaze in Dabbat Umm Jawhar in Harat Al-Balawna and razing entire sections of Harat Al-Wakala and Harat Al-Hamam. The destruction has extended beyond homes, targeting commercial shops, where soldiers have reportedly engaged in theft and deliberate vandalism, actions that constitute war crimes under international law.
The mass displacement continues, with more than 21,000 Palestinians forcibly displaced from Tulkarem and Nur Shams camps, as they flee systematic violence and destruction. These displaced families are now living in inhumane conditions, deprived of shelter, medical care, and food, while Israeli forces continue to raid areas where they have sought refuge, such as the Cultural Sports Club Square.
Despite documented human rights violations, the international response remains muted, with global institutions failing to hold Israeli authorities accountable for these grave breaches of international law. Human rights organisations must launch immediate investigations and activate accountability mechanisms against Israeli officials, in line with the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court.
The ongoing Israeli assault on Tulkarem raises urgent questions about the double standards in international human rights enforcement and highlights the pressing need for both grassroots and official efforts to challenge these systematic violations and support the Palestinian people’s resilience against Israeli oppression.
