West Bank Residents Temporarily Evacuate

(MENAFN) Israeli forces reportedly ordered the evacuation of a residential area east of the Nur Shams refugee camp in the northern West Bank on Wednesday to carry out military exercises, according to local sources.

Residents of the Jabal al-Salihin neighborhood in Tulkarem were instructed to leave their homes, move south, and return only after 3 p.m. local time, the sources said. In addition, residents were reportedly told to leave their windows open during the operation as military activities were prepared in the area.

According to activists sharing information online, the army also distributed maps marking the homes affected by the evacuation order.

At the same time, Israeli forces deployed additional military units, including armored vehicles and heavy bulldozers, into the nearby Nur Shams refugee camp, which has remained under a tight siege for several months.

Local sources reported that the camp has suffered extensive damage in recent months, with roads and infrastructure destroyed during repeated raids. They also said that hundreds of homes have been demolished or burned during ongoing military operations.

Movement restrictions in and around the camp continue, with entrances blocked and residents reportedly prevented from entering. Those attempting to approach the area are said to have been fired upon, according to local accounts.

The Israeli military carried out a broader large-scale operation in northern West Bank refugee camps last year, focusing on Jenin, Tulkarem, and Nur Shams.

Since October 8, 2023, Palestinian authorities report that at least 1,169 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank due to Israeli military actions and settler-related violence. The same figures indicate around 12,666 injured, approximately 23,000 arrests, and roughly 33,000 displaced individuals over the same period.

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