GAZA, March 23, 2025 (WAFA) – The Israeli occupation military continues its wide-scale assault on the city of Tulkarm and its refugee camp for the 56th consecutive day, and for the 43rd day on Nour Shams refugee camp to the east, amid escalating forced evacuations, repeated incursions, and widespread destruction of infrastructure.
This morning, Israeli forces forced residents of ten homes in the Al-Rabayaa neighborhood of the Tulkarm refugee camp to leave their homes, giving them until 10:30 AM to leave. This comes after yesterday's forced evacuations in the Al-Muqataa neighborhood, where the Israeli military seized the homes and converted them into military outposts, triggering a wave of displacement among the residents.
This escalation is part of the ongoing forced displacement campaign targeting neighborhoods on the outskirts of the camp, including Qaqoun, Abu Foul, Murabba’at Hanoon, Al-Hadida, Al-Matar, Al-Muqataa, and Al- Rabayaa. The residents of these areas were coerced into leaving through threats and intimidation, causing more than 12,000 refugees to flee their homes, leaving the camp nearly empty.
Simultaneously, Israeli forces have ramped up their military presence in both Tulkarm and Nour Shams refugee camps, subjecting the areas to a strict siege. They have deployed additional military vehicles, bulldozers, and infantry units into the neighborhoods, which are experiencing extensive damage to their infrastructure. Key roads have been blocked with rubble and dirt barriers.
Israeli bulldozers have also demolished part of the Employee Housing Street in the Iktaba district, east of Tulkarm, particularly the section near Nour Shams camp, causing significant damage to the local infrastructure and the water supply network.
Moreover, the Israeli military has seized over eight residential buildings in the northern district of the camp, adjacent to Nablus Street. These buildings, which house dozens of apartments, were taken over by the Israeli forces, and their residents were forcibly evicted. The area has now been designated a closed military zone.
The ongoing Israeli assault on Tulkarm and its camps has led to the killing of 13 Palestinians, including a child and two women, one of whom was eight months pregnant. Dozens have been injured or detained, and more than 24,000 people have been displaced from both the Tulkarm and Nour Shams camps, in addition to the numerous families forced to flee from the northern neighborhoods of the city.
The continued military assault has resulted in widespread destruction, including the demolition of homes, businesses, and vehicles, many of which have been either completely or partially destroyed, burned, looted, or damaged. The entrances to both refugee camps and their alleyways have been blocked by dirt mounds, further isolating the population.
M.N
