Israeli Airstrike on Tulkarem Refugee Camp Kills Woman and Injures Three

A Palestinian woman was killed, and three others were injured on Tuesday during an Israeli drone strike targeting the Tulkarem refugee camp. 

The strike hit a gathering of civilians in the Al-Hamam neighborhood, resulting in the death of 53-year-old Khawla Abdo and injuring three others, including a 10-year-old child and a 29-year-old man, who remains in critical condition. The wounded were transferred to Martyr Thabet Thabet Hospital for treatment.

Rising Death Toll

The Palestinian Ministry of Health reported that two individuals were killed on Tuesday. Khawla Abdo died in the Tulkarem drone strike, while 18-year-old Fathi Saeed Awda Ubeid succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained during a pre-dawn raid, where he was shot in the abdomen and chest.

Intensified Siege and Destruction

The Israeli military has escalated operations in the Tulkarem refugee camp, deploying additional machinery and forces to the area. Heavy equipment, including bulldozers, has been stationed along Nablus Street near the camp's entrances, exacerbating the dire situation. Faisal Salameh, head of the Tulkarem Refugee Camp Services Committee, described the conditions as catastrophic, highlighting widespread destruction to infrastructure, including water, sewage, and internet networks, leaving the camp isolated from the outside world.

Forced Evacuations and Home Demolitions

Salameh also reported that Israeli forces forcibly evacuated families from their homes in the Harat Al-Madaris neighborhood under the pretext of demolishing nearby properties. Several homes belonging to the Salit and Al-Matruk families were destroyed by explosives and fire, while extensive damage was inflicted on commercial properties, residential walls, and Al-Salam Mosque.

Camp Militarization and Civilian Targeting

The camp has effectively been turned into a military zone, with Israeli forces deploying snipers on rooftops, commandeering numerous buildings, and using residents as human shields. Gunfire has been reported as indiscriminate and heavy, posing significant risks to the camp's civilian population.

Expanded Military Operations

In a parallel operation, Israeli bulldozers entered the vicinity of Nur Shams camp east of Tulkarem, demolishing sections of Nablus Street near the Shaheed Seif Abu Lubda roundabout, which was previously destroyed. Additionally, part of Sikka Street in the nearby Akhtaba neighborhood was razed and blocked with soil mounds, intensifying the area's isolation.

Humanitarian Crisis

Since October 7, 2023, the West Bank has seen 824 Palestinians killed, including 168 children, and over 6,500 injured. These figures underscore the severe humanitarian crisis unfolding in the region, with escalating violence, displacement, and destruction further deteriorating living conditions for Palestinian civilians.

The situation remains dire, with international calls for intervention growing to prevent further loss of life and to address the systemic destruction caused by ongoing military actions.