Israeli Occupation Army Forcibly Evacuates Entire Neighborhoods in Jenin Amid Fears of Their Destruction

The municipality of Jenin confirmed today, Wednesday, that the Israeli occupation army has forcibly evacuated entire neighborhoods in the city and its refugee camp. There are growing fears that these areas may soon face widespread demolition and destruction.

According to Mohammad Jarar, the mayor of Jenin, “The Israeli occupation army continues to displace residents from several neighborhoods in the Jenin refugee camp, relocating them to the western area. We are working with neighboring municipalities to provide housing for them.”

In a statement to Anadolu Agency, Jarar warned of “real fears of Israeli crimes in the camp, including the demolition and destruction of residential areas and blocks.”

He added that “the Israeli army has brought heavy demolition machinery into the camp and has carried out bulldozing operations affecting infrastructure and streets.” He also highlighted the dire situation at Jenin Government Hospital, which has been overwhelmed since the start of the Israeli operation.

Describing the conditions within the camp, Jarar stated, “The Israeli army has imposed a siege, detaining medical teams, residents, patients, and their companions, while preventing any communication with them.”

He further warned that “the hospital has completely run out of food supplies, and at any moment, we may face a crisis with water and electricity due to the Israeli army’s destruction of their supply lines.” Jarar emphasized that “the city is nearly devoid of any movement.”

The mayor noted that since September 2021, the Israeli army has carried out around 104 large-scale military operations in Jenin and its refugee camp, alongside hundreds of repeated incursions.

According to data from the Palestinian Ministry of Health, 10 Palestinians have been martyred, and 40 others wounded during the ongoing Israeli military operation in Jenin and its camp as of Wednesday noon.

On Tuesday, the Israeli army announced that, along with the Shin Bet and Border Police, it had launched a military campaign aimed at “thwarting terrorist activities in Jenin,” which they have named “Iron Wall.”

The Israeli Broadcasting Authority (IBA) reported, “The Israeli army began the Jenin operation with an aerial drone strike targeting infrastructure.”

The Jenin operation comes on the third day of implementing a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement between the occupation and Hamas, following a 16-month-long Israeli genocide in Gaza.

On Tuesday, the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth revealed that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had promised far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich to launch an attack on Jenin’s refugee camp in exchange for not resigning from the government, which could lead to its collapse.

Amid the genocide in Gaza, the Israeli army has escalated its operations and settlers have intensified their attacks across the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. This has led to the martyrdom of 871 Palestinians, the injury of approximately 6,700 others, and the arrest of 14,300 Palestinians, according to official Palestinian statistics.

Between October 7, 2023, and January 19, 2025, the occupation, with U.S. support, committed genocide in Gaza, resulting in more than 157,000 Palestinian martyrs and injured individuals, most of whom were children and women. Additionally, over 14,000 remain missing in what has become one of the world’s worst humanitarian catastrophes.