At least 13 Palestinians were injured during a raid by Israeli occupation forces in the Aqbat Jabr refugee camp in the occupied West Bank on 4 February, reports Al Jazeera.
According to the reports, Israeli forces fired bullets, missiles, and tear gas during the operation. The Palestinian health ministry reported that at least two injured individuals were in serious condition.
Meanwhile, the Palestinian Red Crescent Society reported that the camp was turned into a military zone, and the Israeli army blocked access to ambulances and detained one journo.
Israeli occupation forces are raiding Aqbat Jaber refugee camp in Jericho. 1 journo was detained by soldiers, he sent a message that soldiers are using him and his car as a human shield. So far medical authorities confirm 6 injuries, 2 critical, confirm paramedics are obstructed pic.twitter.com/y4qaqadNdp
— Nour Odeh 🇵🇸🍉 #NojusticeNopeace (@nour_odeh) February 4, 2023
The Israeli army allegedly had been searching for the perpetrators behind a shooting at a restaurant near the Dead Sea that took place eight days prior. The forces deployed snipers and surrounded the entrances to the Maqayta neighborhood in the Aqbat Jabr camp, leading to confrontations with the Palestinians.
Meanwhile, Israeli bulldozers partially demolished a house in the camp, but it was unclear to who the property belonged. Some reports indicate that it was the house of one of the perpetrators behind last week’s shooting.
تغطية صحفية: مشاهد الدمار الذي خلفه الاحتلال خلال اقتحامه الكبير الذي فشل باعتقال مطاردين في مخيم عقبة جبر ب #أريحا.#فريق_مجاهدون pic.twitter.com/1cY2LXDmxU
— وصال 𓂆🇵🇸 (@WESAL_1995) February 4, 2023
The Israeli forces eventually withdrew from the camp later on Saturday.
This raid follows last week’s massacre of ten Palestinians in the Jenin refugee camp, which was the largest military raid in the camp since 2002. Aqbat Jabr is one of 19 Palestinian refugee camps in the West Bank and is home to over 8,000 people.
The UN Refugee Agency reports that the people in the camp have inadequate shelter and sewage facilities.
The recent surge in violence by Israeli forces is part of intensified nightly raids, particularly in the northern cities of Jenin and Nablus, under the guise of crushing limited Palestinian resistance against Israeli occupation. Palestinian civilians, including children and the elderly, and armed resistance fighters have been killed during the raids and armed clashes.
In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced plans to arm Israelis with guns amid the escalating violence in the occupied Palestinian territory. So far this year, 36 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces, including eight children and an elderly woman.