RAMALLAH, Tuesday, July 4, 2023 (WAFA) – ActionAid, which provides aid to the poor around the world, condemned and expressed concern about the Israeli military raids on Jenin refugee camp in the northern occupied West Bank.
Israel yesterday launched a large-scale military operation against the Palestinian Jenin refugee camp with drones, airstrikes and missiles causing the death of 10 Palestinians and injuring more than 100 others. The death toll is likely to rise due to the number of critical injuries. This raid is the largest in the West Bank since 2002.
This Israeli military escalation targets civilians, mosques, homes, infrastructure, ambulances, and health centers preventing the access of the wounded to medical treatment centers, said ActionAid. Israeli military bulldozers have destroyed the roads in Jenin refugee camp, therefore restricting access to anyone injured by the raids.
Farah Abu al-Hiaja a Palestinian activist and a resident of Jenin refugee camp, said, “Ambulances are prevented from reaching the injured and there is no protection. The situation is painful for all residents of the camp including women, children, youth and the elderly. The residents of the Jenin refugee camp are calling for the international community to break their silence and secure protection for Palestinian residents of refugee camps and reach a ceasefire. Electricity, water and internet services have been cut and houses are continually being bombed. No one can enter the camp. Women carry a huge responsibility for protecting their children and families and they are suffering, they are worried all the time about their children, families and houses. Conditions are getting worse, and we are worried about what will happen during the night. Our houses are not prepared for protecting civilians. This is a policy of collective punishment committed by Israel against defenseless civilians.”
Razmi Farook, Director for Asia and Humanitarian at ActionAid International said, “This violence must stop and access to healthcare and medical supplies as well as all other critical services to residents must be secured. 2022 has been the deadliest year for West Bank Palestinians since the United Nations started systematically counting fatalities in 2005. Since the beginning of 2023, the situation has worsened with increased instances of violence, including attacks on Palestinians by settlers, demolitions, and military raids in other refugee camps - all leading to the abhorrent situation in Jenin now. ActionAid calls for the international community to demand Israel as an occupying power, to adhere to the provisions of the Geneva Convention relevant to the protection of citizens and to comply fully with all its international law obligations towards the occupied Palestinian population.”
M.K.
