On 80th day, Israeli offensive on Tulkarm sees persistently escalated raids, arrests


https://www.saba.ye/en/news3466286.htm

Yemen News Agency SABA
On 80th day, Israeli offensive on Tulkarm sees persistently escalated raids, arrests
[16/ April/2025]
Tulkarm - Saba:

The ongoing Israeli aggression on the city of Tulkarm and its camp has entered its 80th day, and the 67th day on the Nour Shams camp, amid ongoing field escalation, raids, and arrests.

The Palestinian News Agency (WAFA) reported that the city of Tulkarm, its refugee camps, and its suburbs witnessed a heavy deployment of Israeli military vehicles and infantry units early Wednesday morning, accompanied by raids and searches in several neighborhoods, amid heavy gunfire and sound bombs.

WAFA quoted local Palestinian sources as saying that infantry units deployed after midnight last night in the Jabal al-Muwazafin housing area in the Iktaba suburb, opposite the Nour Shams camp, amid extensive combing operations. A loud explosion and heavy gunfire were also heard.

Late last night, Israeli forces raided the al-Qaisi and al-Huda gas station in the al-Salam neighborhood east of the city, detaining a number of young men present there. They searched them, checked their IDs, and abused them. No arrests were reported.

The military deployment extended to the Dhnaba suburb and the road connecting it to the town of Kafr al-Labad to the east. These forces fired sound bombs and arrested Osama al-Ali, the brother of the martyr Moatasem al-Ali. They subjected him to field investigation before releasing him later this morning.

Israeli enemy vehicles patrolled several neighborhoods within the city, most notably: the street of the Martyr Thabet Thabet Governmental Hospital, the center of the vegetable market, the eastern neighborhood, Nablus Street, and Courts Street. Vehicles were blocked and prevented from passing on many occasions.

In addition, in recent days, Israeli enemy forces have escalated their forced displacement campaigns against residents of the Tulkarm and Nour Shams camps, Nablus Street, and the traffic circle surrounding the northern neighborhood of the city. They forced residents, after threats and intimidation, to evacuate their homes, giving them a short period of time to take their belongings with them. These homes were then converted into military barracks.

Meanwhile, Nablus Street, which connects the Tulkarm and Nour Shams refugee camps, has witnessed a heavy deployment of Israeli military vehicles, restricting Palestinian citizens and obstructing their movement on the street. The road has been closed off with earth mounds in both directions, and roadblocks are being erected along the entire length of the road, preventing vehicles from passing.

In a related development, in-person classes resumed this morning at five girls' secondary and elementary schools in the eastern neighborhood of the city: Al-Adawiya, Abu Salma Al-Karmi, Khawla Bint Al-Azwar, and Ishbiliya. These schools were closed for more than two and a half months due to the aggression.

The resumption of classes at these schools comes days after the resumption of in-person classes in the rest of the city's schools and suburbs, which began on the 6th of this month. These five schools were delayed due to the security situation in the area.

The ongoing Israeli aggression and escalation on the city of Tulkarm and its two camps have resulted in the deaths of 13 Palestinian citizens, including a child and two women, one of whom was eight months pregnant. Dozens have also been injured and arrested.

It also caused the forced displacement of more than 4,000 families from the Tulkarm and Nour Shams camps, along with hundreds of citizens from the northern neighborhood of the city after their homes were seized and a number of them converted into military barracks.

The Israeli aggression caused extensive destruction to the infrastructure, including homes, shops, and vehicles, which were completely and partially demolished, burned, vandalized, looted, and stolen. 396 homes were completely destroyed and 2,573 partially destroyed in the Tulkarm and Nour Shams camps, in addition to blocking their entrances and alleys with earth mounds.