Israel expels residents of three West Bank refugee camps
Israel has expelled the residents of three refugee camps at the West Bank occupied as it increases a major month -long operation in the Palestinian region.
Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katj said that the camps in Genin, Tulm and Noor Shams were now “empty” and would be captured by the Israeli army for the coming year.
Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it has deployed a tank division around the city of Genin – the first has been done since 2002. The Palestinian Authority condemned the move.
The United Nations said earlier this month that Israel’s operation, which began on January 21 and intensified in recent times, led the “forcible displacement” of 40,000 people.
Israel Katj said in a statement, “So far, 40,000 Palestinians have extracted from the refugee camps of Genin, Tulakaram and Noor Shams, which are now empty from the residents.”
“I have instructed (soldiers) to prepare for prolonged attendance in the camps cleaned for the coming year and to stop the return of residents and revival of terrorism.”
He also said that Israel had directed the United Nations Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA) to stop operating in the region.
Nabil Abu Rudineh, a spokesman of Palestinian President Mahmood Abbas, described the decision to “deploy the tanks as a dangerous Israeli growth, which would not be stable or calm”.
The IDF said in a statement that its army is “continuing the operation to thwart terrorism” and expanding its “aggressive activity” – in which so far intelligence agency Shin Bet’s drones, tanks, special forces, limits Police and operators include. ,
The United Nations said on Thursday that after Israeli operations started on January 21, 51 Palestinians, including seven children, have been killed in Genin, Tubrm and Tubas Governors, as well as three Israeli soldiers.
The aggressive has caused serious damage to the infrastructure of water and hygiene, disrupting the access to water to the “tens of thousands of people”.
His office said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the refugee camp on Friday and ordered the army to intensify “operating activity”.
Netanyahu said, “We are entering terrorist strongholds, leveling the entire roads that terrorists use, and their homes. We are eliminating terrorists, commanders,” Netanyahu said.
His visit described his journey after three buses exploded at Tel Aviv, which was described by Israeli officials as “suspected terrorist attacks”, which was caused by the type of bombs found earlier in West Bank.
Israel captured the West Bank in the six -day war of 1967 and has since constructed around 160 settlements that residence 700,000 Jews. Settlements are considered illegal under international law, although Israel has disputed it.
