RAMALLAH, January 29, 2025 (WAFA) - The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates condemned on Wednesday the provocative raid carried out by the so-called Israeli ‘Defense’ Minister, Israel Katz, in Jenin and its refugee camp.

The ministry criticized his inflammatory anti-Palestinian statements and his insistence on keeping Israeli forces in the area.

In a statement, the ministry described Katz's remarks as an extension of Israel's ongoing campaign of genocide, displacement and annexation. It stressed that his actions violated Palestinian Authority-controlled areas, breaching all signed agreements and defying nations that recognize the State of Palestine.

The ministry also denounced the Israeli claims, aimed at masking crimes against Palestinian civilians, including the displacement of more than 80% of the camp’s residents, cutting off water supplies to the camp and large parts of the city, destroying homes and mosques, sabotaging infrastructure, and besieging hospitals.

The ministry called on the international community and the U.S. administration to intervene immediately to stop the aggression and seriously consider the transfer of Israel’s destructive actions from Gaza to the West Bank.

The ministry further emphasized that the continued aggression against the West Bank, the closure and isolation of the area through hundreds of military checkpoints and iron gates, and the collective punishment of Palestinian citizens were deliberate actions by the occupying government, aimed at exacerbating tensions instead of bringing calm to Gaza and the West Bank.

Israeli forces continued today their onslaught on Jenin and its refugee camp for the ninth consecutive day, killing 16 Palestinians, wounding dozens of others and detaining numerous more, as well as causing widespread destruction of property and infrastructure.

The burning, demolition and razing of homes and property in the camp's neighborhoods also continued unabated.

T.R.