UNRWA Warns Jenin's Condition In The West Bank Is Worsening

JAKARTA - The United Nations Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA) warned on Tuesday that conditions in Jenin's refugee camp, the occupied West Bank, drastically worsened, describing its population as "has borne the impossible."

The Israeli military launched a massive attack on the West Bank on January 21, two days after a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip took effect, aimed at eradicating Palestinian resistance groups from the Jenin region.

The operation caused troops to destroy buildings in refugee camps adjacent to Jenin.

"The camp is heading towards a disaster," UNRWA spokesmanurut Touma told reporters in Geneva, launching Daily Sabah on February 4.

"Most of the camps were completely destroyed as a result of a series of explosions carried out by Israeli forces. An estimated 100 houses were destroyed or heavily damaged," he said, speaking from Amman, Jordan.

The Israeli military blew up buildings in Jenin refugee camp, the occupied West Bank on Sunday in an operation that the Palestinian state news agency said had destroyed about 20 buildings.

The Israeli military said 23 buildings had been "dismantled" in the northern West Bank after explosives laboratories, weapons, and observation posts were found.

On Monday, Palestinian authorities leveled allegations of "ethnic cleansing", while UN special whistleblowers blamed Israel for its "genocidal intent", following Israeli attacks in the region killed at least 70 people since the start of the year.

"Residents of this camp have experienced an impossible thing," said Touma.

"The explosion that occurred on Sunday occurred when the children were supposed to return to school," he said.

Jenin is home to a overcrowded refugee camp inhabited by descendants of Palestinians who were expelled or fled their homes in the 1948 war when the Israeli state was founded.

Refugee camps there have been the center of militant activity for decades, being the target of repeated attacks by Israeli security forces.

Israeli forces carried out attacks on Jenin with the support of armored helicopters and bulldozers.

Touma said UNRWA services at Jenin's camp had been cut off for several months and were completely out in early December.

UNRWA said it did not receive any advance warning about the explosion, as contacts between Israeli staff and authorities were no longer permitted.

"Regarding UNRWA, 13 schools in camps and surrounding areas are still closed. It affects 5,000 children in the area."

Israel accuses UNRWA of providing protection for Hamas members. Israel accuses about a dozen UNRWA staff of taking part in the deadly attack on October 7, 2023 in Israel by Palestinian militant Hamas that sparked war in Gaza.

The United Nations said nine UNRWA staff may have been involved in the October 7, 2023 attack and have been fired. A Hamas commander in Lebanon - who was killed in September by Israel - was also found to have a job at UNRWA. The United Nations has pledged to investigate all charges made and repeatedly asked Israel for evidence, which it says has not been provided.

In the aftermath of this, the Israeli Parliament (Knesset) on October 28, 2024 adopted a law prohibiting UNRWA from operating in Israeli territory and preventing the agency from making any contact with Israeli authorities. It took effect on January 30.