Israeli forces have continued to raid, besiege, and demolish homes in cities and towns across the occupied West Bank, with a military offensive on Tulkarem reaching 100 days on Tuesday.
The siege on the Nur Shams refugee camp, also in Tulkarem governorate, has lasted 87 days, with escalating destruction to infrastructure reported daily.
According to the official Palestinian news agency WAFA, Israeli troops have been patrolling along Tulkarem's main roads, blocking access, and harassing residents with sound grenades.
Two men, identified as Ahed Fathallah al-Hamshari and Wissam Issam Odeh, were reportedly detained during raids on their homes.
Stifling siege
Tulkarem and its surrounding suburbs have endured a stifling Israeli siege for 100 days, with systematic assaults targeting civilians, homes, and infrastructure. Several residential neighbourhoods have effectively been turned into military zones.
Last week, Israeli authorities reportedly notified residents of 106 homes in the Tulkarem and Nur Shams camps that they would be evicted.
On Monday evening, Israeli officials announced plans to demolish 19 more buildings, comprising over 50 residential units. Residents were given just two hours on Tuesday morning to evacuate and collect their belongings.
Tulkarem Governor Abdullah Kamil denounced the demolitions as "truly sadistic", adding that the actions have deepened residents' suffering, exacerbated food insecurity, and lack any legitimate justification.
He called on the international community and human rights organisations to act immediately to halt the ongoing assault.
Since the start of the military campaign in Tulkarem, at least 13 Palestinians, including a child and two women, one eight months pregnant, have been killed.
Over 4,200 families have been displaced, amounting to approximately 25,000 people, and around 396 homes have been destroyed.
Despite prior coordination with the Red Crescent, humanitarian access to the camps has been blocked, according to multiple reports.
Raids in other parts of the West Bank
Raids have also continued in other parts of the West Bank, with Israeli forces storming and ransacking homes in the town of Abwein in Ramallah, arresting one man. At least three other civilians were beaten during the raid, the Palestinian Red Crescent reported.
Israeli bulldozers on Monday demolished 11 residential buildings, seven caves, and five livestock wells in Masafer Yatta. Water wells and tents were also destroyed, along with electricity grids and solar panels, leaving locals displaced and stranded.
Residents in Masafer Yatta have described the offensive as the largest demolition to date in the area.
The European Union Delegation stated on Monday that they were "deeply troubled by news that Israeli authorities have again conducted large-scale demolitions…in Masafer Yatta, home to 107 Palestinians".
The group added that Israel’s moves were "illegal under international law" and noted that "Israel has a duty to protect all Palestinian communities in Area C".
However, COGAT, an Israeli military body responsible for civilian affairs in the occupied West Bank, announced the demolitions were carried out because they were allegedly built illegally in an area designated as a closed firing zone.
Palestinians say getting Israeli permission to build homes or businesses in the West Bank is almost impossible, forcing them to be displaced or be at risk of constant demolitions and evictions.
Further raids took place in the Masaken area east of Nablus, Salfit, Hebron, as well as others.
Since the start of Israel’s war on Gaza in October 2023, there has been a surge in attacks on the occupied West Bank, with an uptick in arrests and violence against Palestinians.