Palestinian families, accompanied by Israeli forces, evacuate their homes in Jenin, West Bank, on January 23, 2025 [Wahaj Bani Moufleh/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty]
Israeli forces continued their siege and assault on Jenin refugee camp for the seventh day in what Israel has dubbed Operation “Iron Walls”, which had left 16 Palestinians dead and dozens injured as of Sunday.
Two-year old Layla Khateeb was the 16th victim of Israel’s ongoing attack on Jenin – killed by a sniper bullet to the head on Saturday as her family sat down at their dinner table.
On Sunday night, Israeli bulldozers also destroyed central Jenin city’s Cinema Roundabout and the surrounding area, according to local sources.
The Israeli army also continued its siege on the Jenin Governmental Hospital with soldiers erecting dirt barriers to block its entrance and bulldozing the roads leading to the medical facility.
Israeli forces have also detonated “at least” 20 homes in Jenin camp, according to Jenin camp resident and journalist Asri Fayyad, who spoke to Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, The New Arab’s Arabic-language sister edition.
On Sunday, Jenin’s governor, Kamal Abu al-Rub, told the Palestinian Maan News Agency about his fears the death toll in the city will rise due to ambulances being unable to reach the besieged hospital.
Journalists have also been prevented from approaching the entrances of the camp, he added.
Israeli forces have also destroyed large parts of the camp including Damaj, Al-Bishr, Abdullah Azzam neighbourhoods, and the Talat Al-Ghabz area.
Abu al-Rub said that Israeli forces were working to divide the camp into four sections by destroying streets, demolishing homes, and setting them on fire.
Six relief trucks arrived at Jenin on Sunday, which would be distributed to affected families affected by the Israeli siege and assault.
Meanwhile, the Jenin Brigades, who are linked to the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) group, said their fighters were continuing to confront the Israeli forces, along with their fighters from the Al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas’ military wing, and the “Youth of Revenge and Liberation” group.
While there is a truce in Gaza, after more than 47,000 Palestinians were killed, Palestinians fear Israel has turned its sights on the West Bank, where settlers and soldiers have targeted residents in the occupied territory with increased vigor since last week.
