Israeli military op transforms Jenin refugee camp into ghost town

An Israeli military operation in Jenin has turned the once-thriving refugee camp into a desolate “ghost town,” residents and officials report, with destruction on a scale unseen in over two decades. Israel’s military claims the raid targets Iranian-backed militant groups operating in the northern West Bank city.

The operation, launched last month, has left Jenin largely deserted. Thousands of Palestinians were forced to flee their homes, abandoning their possessions after Israel issued evacuation orders through drones using loudspeakers. Following the destruction of roads and infrastructure, Israeli forces demolished several buildings over the weekend, causing loud explosions.

“We stayed home until the drones came, telling us to leave because they were going to detonate explosives,” said Khalil Huwail, a father of four who fled with his family. “We left with nothing but the clothes on our backs.”

With bulldozers and armored vehicles deployed, residents navigated debris-laden streets to Red Crescent assembly points for evacuation.

The Israeli military has confirmed the demolition of 23 structures, vowing to continue operations aimed at disrupting militant activity. From a hilltop overlooking the camp, only smoke and soldiers were visible amidst the ruins of homes.

The operation, part of Israel’s broader efforts against militants in the West Bank, follows a ceasefire in the ongoing Gaza conflict with Hamas. The UN Palestinian relief agency (UNRWA) has condemned the demolitions, warning they could escalate tensions and undermine the fragile ceasefire in Gaza.

Jenin, home to descendants of Palestinians displaced during the 1948 creation of Israel, has long been a center of militant groups like Hamas and Islamic Jihad. Past Israeli raids have similarly targeted the camp, most notably during the Second Intifada in 2002, when hundreds of homes were destroyed.

Governor Kamal Abu al-Rub stated that the population of Jenin camp has been reduced to approximately 100 people from 3,490 families before the operation, calling it worse than the 2002 devastation.

As Israel expands its operations across the West Bank, including Tubas and Tulkarm, Defense Minister Israel Katz referenced lessons learned from the Gaza conflict. “If you didn’t know it was Jenin, you’d think it was Gaza,” remarked al-Rub, noting the devastation’s striking similarity to the destruction in Gaza.

The operation continues amid rising tensions, with 70 Palestinians, including both militants and civilians, killed in the West Bank this year. Palestinian leaders see Israel’s actions as part of a broader campaign to displace Palestinians from their land, mirroring the 1948 Nakba, or “catastrophe.”

Jenin’s displaced residents remain resolute. “We will return to our homes. The Nakba will not happen again,” declared Khalil Huwail. “We will not be driven away.”

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