A fierce and large-scale military operation by Israeli forces killed eight Palestinians and critically injured several dozen, in the occupied West Bank. According to the officials of the far-right Israeli administration, thousands of troops entered the Jenin refugee camp using armoured vehicles and drones in a never seen before incursion where they used army bulldozers to plough through narrow streets destroying buildings and cutting off water and electricity.
The escalation of violence using brute force prompted Lynn Hastings, the UN humanitarian coordinator in the Palestinian areas, to put out a tweet saying “alarmed by scale of Israeli forces operation in Jenin, occupied West Bank. Airstrikes were used in the densely populated refugee camp. Several dead and critically wounded.” According to local media reports Israeli forces have destroyed buildings, blocked access, taken over buildings and placed snipers on top, suggesting the brutal operation could drag on for days. After the current far-right government has taken over Israel has upped its aggression against the Palestinian people killing many including children during its incursions. According to observers, this is one of the biggest operations in 20 years in West bank.
Several Arab, and Islamic countries, including Qatar, and international organisations have condemned and denounced the continuous Israeli aggression against Palestinians.
In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs warned of the fading opportunities for peace and the widening of the cycle of violence due to the continuous Israeli escalation in the occupied Palestinian territories. It also stressed the need for the international community to move urgently to provide the necessary protection for the Palestinian people, and to oblige Israel to stop its flagrant violations of international law and force it to respect the decisions of international legitimacy.
Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) said these heinous acts are yet more crimes in Israel’s record of organized terrorism against the Palestinian people, while strongly condemning the crimes committed by the Israeli occupying forces in Jenin. The OIC called on the UN Security Council to assume its responsibility and enforce its relevant resolutions.
For its part, Arab League stressed that the occupation state bears full responsibility for this aggression which is tantamount to a war crime and a violation of laws and international legitimacy resolutions.
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) called for prompt and urgent international action to stop these brutal assaults and repressive practices that led to the fall of several martyrs.
It is high time the international community came together and swiftly put an end to the violence and acts against the aggressor for destroying lives and livelihoods.
