“There are raids on homes, bombing of homes, and the destruction of infrastructure”: West Bank refugee camp residents under siege and in fear as major Israeli military incursion continues 

Women living in refugee camps in the West Bank have described being under siege and in fear as a major military incursion in the territory continues. Over the last few days the Israeli military has launched intensive raids and airstrikes on cities and refugee camps in the north of the West Bank, killing at least 16 Palestinians – including two children.  
 
ActionAid strongly condemns this latest assault on the territory, which is believed to be the largest of its kind in more than 20 years, and is resulting in violations of human rights norms and unlawful killings, according to the UN Human Rights Office.  
 
Faraha, Head of the Kay la Nansa (Not to Forget) Organisation based in Jenin refugee camp, said residents of the camp have been terrified and unable to leave their homes, while medical teams are unable to reach injured people. In a voicenote message, she told ActionAid: “For more than 17 hours, the Jenin [refugee] camp and city and the surrounding villages and towns have been under siege. All entrances are completely closed. Dirt barriers have been placed. No one is allowed to enter or leave the camp. There are raids on homes, bombing of homes, and the destruction of infrastructure. There is a state of fear and tension among women and children... Of course, the basis of this fear is what is happening in Gaza, which is affecting people's [psychological wellbeing] and causing them to live in a state of high tension. 
 
“All hospitals are under siege and the ambulance crew is not allowed to move. There are many injured people that no one has been able to reach. The humanitarian situation is very bad and deteriorating. There are many elderly people who are unable to stay in their homes without electricity or water. There are people with chronic diseases who need treatment. There are children whose psychological condition is very poor. Without electricity the situation is difficult and there are high levels of stress. Mothers try as much as possible to help and support their children.” 
 
Military raids take place frequently in Jenin refugee camp, but Iman, a 58-year-old mother of three who lives in the camp with her family, said this time it was different.  
 
She said: “There are repeated raids on the city and the camp but unfortunately this raid – or actually, this war –  that is taking place inside the city of Jenin and Jenin refugee camp, it is not just a normal storming... compared to the number of soldiers, the number of vehicles present and the [Israeli army’s] [actions] against civilians...Jenin and the refugee camp are like a military barrack. There are thousands of soldiers in the city and the camp. The Israeli military divided the city's neighborhoods into separate neighborhoods...Each neighborhood is isolated on its own, so there is no communication between people...Hospitals in the city are surrounded...Medical crews face great difficulty transporting patients. Injured people do not reach the hospitals. The army enters homes, destroys homes, and destroys private property...[There is] repeated shooting here...Any civilian car [the Israeli army] see, they shoot at it.” 
 
Major raids have also been carried out in Nablus, Tulkarm and Tubas. On Wednesday, Em Basel, 52, who lives in the Nur Shams refugee camp in Tulkarm, and her heavily pregnant daughter were left trapped in their home and unable to leave after soldiers stormed the area.  
In a voicenote message, she told ActionAid: ‘[The army is] everywhere; tanks and snipers. So no one can even look out their window...No one can leave; anyone who leaves will be shot. They placed snipers on all the tall buildings outside the camp from areas overlooking the camp. 
 
“My daughter is in her [ninth] month [of pregnancy] and today is her last day [before she is due to] give birth. She is very tired and we cannot leave the camp. Entering the camp is not allowed, not for ambulances or anyone...Frankly, I do not know what to do [to help] my daughter. I hope that she does not go into labour while [the Israeli army] are here. They bombed the main water point and now there is no water in the camp.” 
 
Since October 7, the Israeli military has carried out near daily raids in the West Bank and killed more than 600 Palestinians, according to the OHCHR. Palestinians in the West Bank have also faced increasing violence from Israeli settlers, with around 1,270 settler attacks recorded. 
 
ActionAid demands that the Israeli authorities heed their obligations under international humanitarian law and protect and uphold the rights of Palestinians. All allegations of unlawful killing must be fully investigated, and those responsible held accountable. 
 
Spokespeople are available – please contact the ActionAid press office on [email protected] or on 07753 973 486.