The Palestinian presidency has accused Israel of “ethnic cleansing” in the West Bank, following a series of aggressive military operations that have resulted in widespread devastation and displacement.
“The Israeli aggressive policies in the West Bank have led to the killing of 29 citizens, with hundreds wounded and arrested,” said Nabil Abu Rudeineh, spokesperson for the Palestinian presidency, in a press statement on Monday. “Entire residential blocks in the Jenin and Tulkarm camps have been destroyed, thousands displaced, and there’s been massive destruction of infrastructure.”
Abu Rudeineh called on the United States to intervene immediately to halt the Israeli actions. “This ongoing aggression against our people and land will lead to an explosion of the situation,” he warned.
Since January 21, the Israeli military has been conducting a large-scale campaign named “Iron Wall” in the West Bank’s Jenin and Tulkarm regions. The operation aims to dismantle what Israel describes as “terrorist groups” and to maintain military control over the occupied territory. On Sunday, Israeli forces announced the expansion of the campaign into the northern West Bank.
The impact on civilians has been severe. Mohammed Jarrar, the mayor of Jenin, reported that approximately 15,000 residents have been displaced from the Jenin camp due to the military operation. He described the assault as the “most dangerous” the city has witnessed in its history.
In Tulkarm, Governor Abdullah Kamil stated that nearly half of the Tulkarm camp’s residents—about 48%—have been displaced because of the ongoing operations.
The Palestinian Health Ministry, based in Ramallah, reported on Monday that 70 Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli army in the West Bank during January 2025 alone.
The escalating violence has raised international concerns about the humanitarian situation in the region. Many fear that without swift intervention, the conflict could further destabilize the area and lead to even greater suffering for civilians caught in the crossfire.
