TULKAREM, January 28, 2025 (WAFA) - Israeli occupation forces late Monday night forced families in the Tulkarem refugee camp to leave their homes at gunpoint, according to eyewitnesses.
Eyewitnesses inside the camp told WAFA that Israeli forces forced several families to leave their homes in the al-Mattar and Murabba'at Hannoun neighborhoods at gunpoint, notifying them that they would not be permitted to return for a period of one week.
The occupation forces also took over several tall buildings overlooking the Martyrs and al- Hammam neighborhoods, turning them into military outposts after forcing the residents out.
The Tulkarem Directorate of Awqaf (endowments) announced the opening of Masjid Mos'ab Bin Omair and Salah Al-Din mosques in the city to provide shelter for citizens stranded due to the ongoing aggression by the occupation forces.
Israeli bulldozers continued tonight to destroy infrastructure and residents’ properties, including homes and commercial shops, in various parts of the camp, particularly in the al-Balawna, al-Wakalah, and al-Madrasa neighborhoods. Additionally, Israeli forces set fire to a home belonging to the Shaheen family in al-Wakalah neighborhood.
The occupation forces have imposed a strict siege on the camp, deploying their vehicles and snipers at all entrances while intensifying gunfire. Sporadic sounds of explosions were also heard in the camp.
Israeli forces also detained several citizens from the Al-Rashid neighborhood in the nearby Thanaba suburb after raiding their homes.
Earlier, an Israeli bulldozer caused extensive damage to the city's streets and infrastructure, uprooting trees, especially on the road leading to the Martyr Thabet Thabet Governmental Hospital, which has been under a strict siege, disrupting the work of ambulances and medical teams.
The destruction also affected water, electricity, and internet networks in the vicinity of Jamal Abdel Nasser Square in the city center, as well as Al-Muqataa and Khadouri Streets in the eastern and western neighborhoods, respectively. Israeli soldiers were also deployed throughout the city and snipers were positioned on buildings.
T.R.
