Israeli Airstrike Kills 18 in Tulkarem Refugee Camp, Sparking Outrage
An Israeli airstrike on the Tulkarem refugee camp in the occupied West Bank early this morning has resulted in the deaths of at least 18 Palestinians, Al Jazeera reports, citing the Palestinian Ministry of Health.
The attack, which the Israeli military claims targeted a Hamas operative, has been met with widespread condemnation, with Palestinians accusing Israel of a “heinous crime” against civilians.
The Israeli military confirmed the strike, stating that its fighter jets had targeted the “head of Hamas’s infrastructure in Tulkarem” in coordination with the Shin Bet, Israel’s internal security service. However, Hamas has not yet commented on the Israeli claims.
Footage from the scene, verified by Al Jazeera’s Sanad fact-checking agency, shows widespread devastation in the densely populated camp, located northwest of Nablus. Massive piles of wreckage are visible, and fires have broken out, with rescuers seen rushing injured victims to medical facilities.
The attack comes amidst a surge in Israeli military raids and attacks across the occupied West Bank since the start of Israel’s war on the Gaza Strip in October 2023. According to the United Nations humanitarian office (OCHA), 695 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank since October 7, 2023, with the vast majority killed by the Israeli army.
The Tulkarem refugee camp, home to over 21,000 Palestinians in a small area of just 0.18 square kilometers, is particularly vulnerable to such attacks.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas condemned the attack, calling it a “heinous crime” against civilians. In a statement, his spokesperson Nabil Abu Rudeineh said the deadly assault was “part of a broader pattern of genocide against the Palestinian people in both the West Bank and Gaza Strip”.
Last month, a UN expert warned that Israel had escalated its military assault on the northern West Bank, leading to a “dangerous escalation.”
The attack has also been met with international concern, with many calling for an immediate end to the violence and for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
