Shocking West Bank scenes threaten Gaza ceasefire agreement: UNRWA

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) has warned that the “shocking scenes in the West Bank undermine the ceasefire reached in Gaza and risk a new escalation.”

In a press statement, UNRWA reported that a series of controlled detonations by Israeli forces had completely destroyed large areas of Jenin camp. The agency noted that it had not received prior warning about the demolitions, putting civilian lives at risk, Xinhua news agency reported.

“Residents of the camp have endured the impossible, facing nearly two months of unceasing and escalating violence. In the last months, Jenin camp has been rendered a ghost town,” the statement added.

Earlier in the day, the Palestinian presidency condemned Israel’s expansion of its “war” in the West Bank, warning of dangerous consequences.

Nabil Abu Rudeineh, spokesperson for the Palestinian presidency, said the ongoing Israeli “aggression” would lead to further escalation. He emphasized that the Palestinian people would not accept any displacement or an alternative homeland.

On January 21, the Israeli army launched a security operation called “Iron Wall” in Jenin, its refugee camp, and other areas of the northern West Bank. Israel claims the operation is aimed at targeting armed militants and dismantling “terrorist” infrastructure.

Since then, 29 Palestinians have been killed, and residential blocks in the Jenin and Tulkarm camps have been demolished, according to Abu Rudeineh, as reported by Palestinian news agency WAFA.

Tulkarm Governor Abdullah Kamil announced on Monday that Israeli forces had forcibly displaced around 9,000 residents—over 75 percent of the population of the Tulkarm refugee camp.

The raid in Jenin and other areas of the northern West Bank occurred just two days after a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel took effect in Gaza.