TULKARM, February 10, 2025 (WAFA) – The humanitarian crisis in Nour Shams refugee camp, east of Tulkarm, is worsening as Israeli occupation forces continue their wide-scale onslaught that has forced hundreds of residents to flee their homes under threat of gunfire.
Eyewitnesses reported seeing dozens of families leaving the camp under duress, forced out at gunpoint while Israeli forces fired live bullets randomly. Explosions were also heard intermittently, heightening the fear and chaos among the displaced residents.
During their forced displacement, many residents described the harrowing ordeal of being held in the rain and mud for hours. Young men and adults, in particular, were subjected to physical searches, mistreatment, and prolonged detention before being allowed to leave. Others spoke of the devastation left behind, with homes and shops reduced to rubble and roads dug up.
Soldiers raided homes violently, breaking furniture, assaulting young men, and expelling elderly residents without allowing them to take even basic necessities such as clothing. Mobile phones were also confiscated.
Nihad Al-Shawish, head of the Nour Shams Popular Services Committee, described the situation in the camp as extremely dire. He confirmed that Israeli forces had reached large sections of the camp, storming homes by blowing up their doors while residents were still inside. People were then forced out under threat.
The displacement has been particularly severe in neighborhoods such as Al-Maslakh, Al-Manshiya, Jabal Al-Salihin, and Jabal Al-Nasr, which are now nearly deserted. Families have been directed to various locations, including Tulkarm city, the Dhanaba suburb, and the town of Anabta. Meanwhile, the Palestine Red Crescent Society is assisting elderly residents and those in need of medical care by relocating them to safer areas.
In addition to the human suffering, bulldozers have destroyed much of the camp’s infrastructure, cutting off electricity, water, and internet services. Homes, businesses, and vehicles have also been damaged, especially in Al-Manshiya and Jabal Al-Salihin, with destruction now spreading to the camp’s inner streets.
The Emergency Committee of Nour Shams Refugee Camp announced on Monday that half of the camp’s residents had fled, while 200 homes had been completely destroyed and 120 others partially damaged. The numbers are expected to rise as the situation unfolds.
Amid the ongoing assault, residents have made urgent appeals for intervention, particularly in heavily targeted areas where people remain trapped in partially destroyed homes. One such case involved the Al-Qusayr family in Jabal Al-Salihin.
The Israeli forces initially stormed the camp at dawn on Sunday as part of their 15-day-long offensive in Tulkarm and its refugee camp. A strict siege has been imposed, accompanied by live fire, resulting so far in the killing of three Palestinians, including two women—one of whom was eight months pregnant.
M.N
