Tulkarm – SABA:
Israeli occupation forces have escalated their aggression on the city of Tulkarm and its two refugee camps for the 154th consecutive day, and the 141st day on Nur Shams Camp, amid heavy military reinforcements.
According to the Palestinian News Agency (WAFA), the city and its suburbs witnessed on Sunday intensified movements by Israeli forces and infantry units, particularly in the main street of Iktaba suburb east of Tulkarm. Occupation troops set up flying checkpoints, stopped vehicles, searched them, inspected IDs, and detained several citizens.
Occupation forces also raided the suburb of Thanaba, conducting wide-ranging searches. During the raid, they detained several young men for hours after storming their homes, before releasing them. Known detainees include: Amro Abbas, and brothers Yazan, Mohammad, and Zain Al-Qassem, as well as Mahmoud Nabhan Odeh.
Simultaneously, the occupation continues to impose a tight siege on Tulkarm and Nur Shams camps, deploying infantry and military vehicles at alleyways and entrances, preventing residents from reaching their homes or checking on their properties, with live fire targeting anyone who approaches.
Last week, Nur Shams Camp witnessed the demolition of dozens of buildings and housing units, especially in the neighborhoods of Al-Manshiya, Al-Maslak, the clinic, and the mosque.
Tulkarm Camp has seen the demolition of over 50 buildings during the past two weeks in the neighborhoods of Al-Balawneh, Al-Okasha, the Club, Al-Sawalmeh, Al-Hamam, and surrounding schools.
This escalating campaign follows a plan announced by the Israeli authorities in May, which includes demolishing 106 buildings in both camps — 58 in Tulkarm alone, containing more than 250 housing units and dozens of businesses, and 48 in Nur Shams, under the pretext of “opening roads” and changing geographical features.
The aggression has led to the forced displacement of over 5,000 families, equating to more than 25,000 residents, along with the total destruction of over 500 homes and partial damage to 2,573 others, while entrances to the camps remain sealed with barriers, turning them into semi-deserted zones.
Meanwhile, Israeli forces continue severe restrictions at city entrances, particularly at Anab military checkpoint east of Tulkarm, which remains almost permanently closed to vehicles. They also intermittently set up flying checkpoints near Jabara Bridge, at the southern entrance, further exacerbating the suffering of locals.
In parallel, Nablus Street has effectively become a military zone, with Israeli forces occupying several residential buildings, particularly in the northern neighborhood adjacent to Tulkarm Camp. Some buildings have been under occupation control for over four months, with heavy machinery and bulldozers deployed throughout the area.
This street — considered a vital link between the two camps — has suffered significant damage due to earth barriers placed by the occupation months ago. The persistent presence of flying checkpoints and occupation patrols hampers vehicular movement and worsens residents’ daily hardships.
To date, the ongoing aggression has resulted in the martyrdom of 13 Palestinians, including a child and two women — one of whom was eight months pregnant — in addition to dozens of injuries, arrests, and extensive destruction of infrastructure, homes, shops, and vehicles.
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