[News] Israeli Forces Escalate West Bank Raids as Netanyahu and Katz Storm Tulkarm

[Anti-Imperialist News]

palestinechronicle.com
<https://www.palestinechronicle.com/israeli-forces-escalate-west-bank-raids-as-netanyahu-and-katz-storm-tulkarm/>
Israeli Forces Escalate West Bank Raids as Netanyahu and Katz Storm
TulkarmFebruary
21, 2025
------------------------------
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu storms a civilian home in the
occupied West Bank. (Photo: via social media)

*By Palestine Chronicle Staff
<https://www.palestinechronicle.com/writers/palestine-chronicle-staff>*

Israeli forces have expanded their military presence in the occupied West
Bank, continuing a month-long offensive that has resulted in widespread
destruction and displacement.

On Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister
Yisrael Katz toured the Tulkarm refugee camp in the northern West Bank,
entering a Palestinian home after overseeing demolition and destruction
operations.

During his raid, Netanyahu announced that he had ordered additional
reinforcements in the West Bank, citing what Israeli authorities described
as an attempted bombing of buses near Tel Aviv on Thursday.

“What we saw yesterday was an attempt to carry out mass serial attacks,
which is very dangerous,” he said.

Israeli Defense Minister Katz, who also stormed Tulkarm, stated that the
bus explosions would not deter Israel’s military actions.

He confirmed that he had instructed the army to escalate operations against
what he called “terrorism” in the West Bank.

Israeli forces subsequently deployed three additional military battalions
to the region.

 Israeli media reported that a Jewish citizen had been arrested on
suspicion of transporting a Palestinian believed to be involved in planting
the explosives.

The explosions, which occurred in the cities of Bat Yam and Holon near Tel
Aviv, did not cause any casualties.
*Destruction and Displacement in Tulkarm*

Local sources told Al-Jazeera that Israeli military reinforcements arrived
in Tulkarm from the western axis on the 26th day of the ongoing military
operation in the city and its camp.

The Israeli army took control of a building in Tulkarm, converting it into
a military outpost, while blocking vehicle movement near Thabet Thabet
Hospital.

The Tulkarm camp has suffered extensive destruction, with Israeli
bulldozers demolishing more than 14 homes and setting others on fire.

The occupation forces have also continued their offensive in the nearby Nur
Shams camp for the 13th consecutive day, damaging Palestinian homes, shops,
and infrastructure, including water, electricity, and communications
networks.

On Friday, residents of Tulkarm buried Ahmed Awad, who succumbed to
injuries sustained when an Israeli military vehicle struck him during the
offensive. His wife was also seriously injured. Eyewitnesses reported that
the vehicle was driving at high speed against traffic in the middle of the
city.
*Children Killed in Jenin, Hebron*

Meanwhile, the Palestinian Ministry of Health reported that Israeli forces
shot and killed 13-year-old Rimas Amouri in Jenin refugee camp.

The child was critically wounded by a bullet that entered her abdomen and
exited through her back. She was transported to Jenin Governmental
Hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.

Amouri’s killing brings the death toll in Jenin Governorate to 27 since the
escalation began last month, according to the official Palestinian news
agency WAFA.

Later on Friday, Israeli occupation forces killed 11-year-old Ayman
al-Haimoni in the Al-Ksara area, in Hebron (Al-Khalil).

Elsewhere, a Palestinian child was injured by rubber-coated bullets, and
dozens of others suffered from tear gas inhalation during clashes with
Israeli forces in Kafr Qaddum, east of Qalqilya.

In Qusra, south of Nablus, several Palestinians also suffered from tear gas
exposure following a raid by Israeli troops.

For the past month, the Israeli army has carried out large-scale military
operations across the West Bank, including in Jenin, Tulkarm, Tubas, and
Nablus. The assaults have resulted in dozens of Palestinian casualties and
displaced tens of thousands.

*(PC, AJA)*
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