Israeli incursions in Tulkarm

Israeli incursions in Tulkarm
Part of the Israeli incursions in the West Bank during the Israel–Hamas war and the Israeli–Palestinian conflict
Israeli soldier standing in the street near an intersection with a hospital building in front of the soldier and a military vehicle and ambulance in the intersection.
The Israeli Army during a siege on Thabet Thabet Governmental Hospital in the Tulkarm city center, January 17, 2024
DateMarch 10, 2023 – present
Location
Tulkarm, West Bank
Belligerents
Tulkarm Brigade		  Israel
Casualties and losses
Dozens killed or injured Dozens killed or injured
  • 119 Palestinians, including citizens, killed from October 7, 2023 to July 1, 2024

The Israeli incursions in Tulkarm are a series of ongoing Israeli military invasions and operations on the West Bank city of Tulkarm and the city's two camps (Tulkarm camp and Nur Shams camp) in 2023 and 2024, in part due to the city being the stronghold of the Tulkarm Brigade. The invasions of the city took place before and during the 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel that erupted on October 7, 2023. The Israeli invasion of Tulkarm was met with Palestinian, Arab, Islamic, and international condemnation.[1][2][3][4][5][6] One of the largest incursions occurred on October 19, 2023, which lasted for about thirty continuous hours, leaving thirteen Palestinians dead and more than thirty wounded, as well as causing extensive destruction to homes, streets and infrastructure.[7] The incursion on January 3, 2024, which lasted for about 40 hours, was also significant. Additional prominent incursion include the incursion on January 17, 2024, which lasted for about 45 continuous hours, leaving eight Palestinians dead and causing massive destruction, while the incursion of April 18, 2024 lasted for more than 60 continuous hours, leaving a large number of Palestinian citizens dead and causing immense destruction.[8] The continuous incursion on Tulkarm represented the largest, longest, most extensive, and most destructive invasions on the West Bank since the Second Intifada.[9]

The Israeli invasion of Tulkarm coincided with statements made by Israeli officials calling for the destruction of the city. On May 29, 2024, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said that "terror must be eliminated everywhere, even if it means turning Tulkarm into a city like Gaza";[10][11][12] on May 30, 2024, Smotrich also said that "if terrorism continues, we will turn Tulkarm into a city like the Gaza Strip";[13] and on July 4, 2024, Smotrich again called for the destruction of Tulkarm, saying: "Tulkarm must become a city of ruins".[14]

  1. ^ الأردنية (بترا), وكالة الأنباء. "الأمم المتحدة: إسرائيل استخدمت طائرة دون طيار ضد سكان مخيم طولكرم". بترا -وكالة الأنباء الأردنية. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
  2. ^ "منظمة التعاون الإسلامي تدين بشدة جريمة الاحتلال الإسرائيلي في طولكرم". الإذاعة التونسية (in Arabic). 2023-09-24. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
  3. ^ "The Union of Radio and Television of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation strongly condemns the crime of the Israeli occupation in Tulkarm". The Union of Radio and Television of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. September 24, 2023. Archived from the original on 12-27-2023. Retrieved 12-27-2023.
  4. ^ “Arabiyya al-Nuwab condemns the occupation army’s storming of the Palestinian city of Tulkarm today.” Al-Masry Al-Youm. December 17, 2023. Archived from the original on 12-17-2023. Retrieved 12-17-2023.
  5. ^ "كونا : (التعاون الاسلامي) تدين استمرار جرائم الاحتلال ضد الشعب الفلسطيني - الشؤون السياسية - 27/12/2023". www.kuna.net.kw. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
  6. ^ "منظمة التعاون الإسلامي تدين عدوان الاحتلال الإسرائيلي على مخيم نور شمس بالضفة الغربية". وكالة الانباء اليمنية Saba Net :: سبأ نت. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
  7. ^ "اقتحمته إسرائيل 10 ساعات.. قتلى وجرحى ودمار بمخيم نور شمس". www.aa.com.tr. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
  8. ^ “A young man was martyred in the town of Tamoun and great destruction occurred in the Tulkarm camps.” Al-Ayyam Palestinian newspaper. January 5, 2024. Archived from the original on 05-01-2024 . Retrieved on 01-05-2024 .
  9. ^ "Tulkarm under siege: The enemy resumes the "second intifada"". Al-Akhbar Lebanese newspaper. January 19, 2024. Archived from the original on 01-19-2024. Retrieved on 01-19-2024.
  10. ^ "وزير مالية إسرائيل يطالب بتدمير "طولكرم" ويواصل التحريض ضد الفلسطينيين". اليوم السابع (in Arabic). 2024-05-29. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
  11. ^ "سموتريتش يدعو لتحويل الضفة الغربية مثل غزة". سكاي نيوز عربية (in Arabic). Retrieved 2024-08-08.
  12. ^ "Smotrich urges West Bank crackdown 'even if it means Tulkarem will look like Gaza'"
  13. ^ "سموتريتش يهدد بتحويل طولكرم إلى خراب". الوقائع الإخبارية. 2024-05-30. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
  14. ^ "إسرائيل تقر خططا لبناء 5300 وحدة استيطانية جديدة بالضفة". الجزيرة نت (in Arabic). Retrieved 2024-08-08.