Israel plans to 'destroy' Jenin camp, continue military siege 'indefinitely': Report
Israeli forces have killed at least 25 Palestinians and displaced over 20,000 people since their assault on Jenin camp began last month
Israel plans to continue military operations in Jenin "indefinitely" to destroy the refugee camp in the city and prevent more than half of its residents from returning, Al-Araby Al-Jadeed reported on 14 February.
"Officers from the Israeli Civil Administration explained to us that the military operation in the camp will continue indefinitely and that more than half of its residents will not be able to return to it after the destruction," said Ammar Abu Bakr, the head of the Jenin Chamber of Commerce.
Israeli forces began their "Iron Wall" operation on 21 December, displacing some 40,000 Palestinians across the West Bank. Since then, bulldozers have been demolishing Jenin's residential buildings, businesses, and infrastructure, including roads.
Israeli media reported that the army's Central Command is considering establishing permanent military posts in or near the Jenin camp, allowing a specialized battalion to launch rapid military operations.
The Israeli assault follows a siege on the camp imposed by the Palestinian Authority (PA) in December.
Amid the destruction, displacement, and ongoing military operations, Israel's civil administration is asking camp residents to reopen their shops and resume economic activity.
"I explained to [the civil administration] that we cannot invite people to lead a normal life in the city while all 14,000 residents of the camp have been displaced," Abu Bakr told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed.
The civil administration has also asked local officials to begin repairing infrastructure destroyed by the army without providing funds for this.
"Our answer was clear on this matter. The important thing here is the Palestinian Authority, and if there is money for the authority reserved by the occupation, why don't you transfer it to the PA and the authority will transfer it to the municipality so that it paves the streets that you destroyed in the military operation?" he said.
The Jenin Camp Media Committee reports that since the start of the current operation in Jenin, Israeli forces have killed at least 25 Palestinians and displaced over 20,000 people.
Israeli troops have raided 153 homes, while the air force has carried out 14 airstrikes, causing severe damage to infrastructure and residential areas, the committee added.
The committee urged the international community, human rights organizations, and humanitarian institutions to "intervene immediately to stop these crimes and ensure the basic needs of the displaced and besieged residents in the camp."