Red Cross voices concern over situation in northern West Bank

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) expressed concern on Monday over the situation in the occupied West Bank, Anadolu has reported. The organisation pointed out specifically that it is “deeply concerned with the impact of ongoing security operations on the civilian population in Jenin and Tulkarem, Tubas and other locations in the northern West Bank.”

“Thousands of civilians have been displaced due to ongoing security operations,” the ICRC pointed out. “Many people have fled their homes to take shelter, including in crowded mosques and schools.”

Moreover, “With many homes damaged or destroyed, people are struggling to access basic needs such as clean water, food, medical care and shelter. Winter weather has made it more difficult to survive. Displaced civilians are also struggling to find information about family members who have gone missing or who might have been detained.”

The Israeli army has been conducting military operations in the northern West Bank since last month, killing at least 60 people and displacing thousands. In its statement on X (formerly Twitter), the ICRC omitted to point out that it is the Israeli occupation forces which are carrying out the “ongoing security operations” and are responsible for the “damaged or destroyed” Palestinian homes and for displacing the local population.

The ICRC reiterated that the Palestinian population in the occupied territories are supposed to be “treated humanely and protected from violence.” Again, though, it omitted to say that it is Israel which is violating international law by not treating the Palestinians humanely or protecting them from violence.

The current situation arises out of Israel’s ongoing military escalation in the West Bank, where at least 923 Palestinians have been killed and nearly 7,000 injured in attacks by the Israeli army and illegal settlers since the start of the Israeli onslaught against the Gaza Strip on 7 October, 2023, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.

The International Court of Justice declared last July that Israel’s long- standing occupation of Palestinian territories is illegal, demanding the evacuation of all settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

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