The Palestinian health ministry has reported that a raid by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank has resulted in the deaths of eight individuals, including two women.
According to the Ramallah-based ministry, seven fatalities occurred in the Tulkarem refugee camp while one was reported in the nearby Nur Shams camp following a large-scale military operation early this morning.
Among the deceased in Tulkarem were two women: Khawla Ali Abdullah Abdo, aged 53, and Bara Khalid Hussein, aged 30, as stated by the ministry.
Eighteen-year-old Fathi Said Awda Ubaid was also reported dead, having sustained fatal gunshot wounds to the chest and abdomen.
The Israeli military, known for conducting frequent raids in the area targeting individuals identified as wanted militants, stated in a communication that they had “eliminated a terrorist” in close combat during the overnight operation in Tulkarem.
It remains unclear which of the deceased Palestinians the Israeli statement pertains to.
Residents of the Tulkarem camp reported that the raid involved bulldozers demolishing roads.
Since the Hamas militants’ attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, which sparked the war in Gaza and broader conflicts, hundreds of Palestinians and numerous Israelis have lost their lives in the West Bank.
An Israeli soldier patrols the streets of Tulkarem during a raid that resulted in seven fatalities, according to the Palestinian health ministry.
Patients evacuated from northern Gaza hospital, say medics
The raids in the West Bank coincide with Israeli troops forcibly evacuating the Indonesian Hospital in northern Gaza, with many patients making their way to another hospital located miles away in Gaza City, as reported by the territory’s health ministry.
The Indonesian Hospital is one of the few remaining operational hospitals in Gaza’s northern region, an area that has been under heavy Israeli military pressure for almost three months.
Israel asserts that its operations surrounding the three northern Gaza communities—Beit Lahiya, Beit Hanoun, and Jabalia—are aimed at targeting Hamas militants.
In contrast, Palestinians accuse Israel of attempting to permanently depopulate northern Gaza to establish a buffer zone, which Israel has denied.
Munir Al-Bursh, head of the health ministry in Gaza, reported that the Israeli army had ordered hospital officials to evacuate the premises yesterday before launching an incursion early this morning, compelling those inside to vacate.
He also noted that two other medical facilities in northern Gaza, Al-Awda and Kamal Adwan Hospitals, have frequently faced assaults by Israeli forces in the region.
The Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza
“Occupation forces have rendered the three hospitals non-operational due to repeated attacks that have damaged and destroyed parts of them,” Mr. Bursh stated.
Officials at these hospitals have thus far rejected Israel’s evacuation orders and have refused to leave patients unattended since the commencement of the new military offensive on 5 October.
Israel claims to have been facilitating the delivery of medical supplies, fuel, and patient transfers to other hospitals within the enclave during this period, working alongside international agencies like the World Health Organization.
Hussam Abu Safiya, director of the Kamal Adwan Hospital, mentioned their resistance to a recent military order to evacuate hundreds of patients, their companions, and staff, adding that the hospital has been under continuous fire from Israeli forces that have damaged generators, oxygen pumps, and parts of the building.
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According to medics, Israeli forces have been operating in the vicinity of the hospital since yesterday.
An Israeli security official characterized the area as a stronghold of Hamas.
“Kamal Adwan is situated at the center of the most complex fighting in Jabaliya,” he explained.
“We are exercising extreme caution.”
Read more: Wartime Bethlehem prepares for a somber Christmas
Famine ‘imminent’ in northern Gaza, says Tánaiste
A monitor for food insecurity has reported that a famine scenario is unfolding in regions of northern Gaza.
The Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET) has indicated that the area has reached IPC 5 levels of food insecurity, indicative of famine conditions.
Addressing the issues of hunger, famine, and conflict in both Gaza and Sudan, Tánaiste Micheál Martin stated that both crises are man-made, arising from conflict, forced displacement, destruction of civilian infrastructure, and deliberate obstruction of humanitarian assistance.
Mr. Martin emphasized that the likelihood of famine being “imminent” in northern Gaza is high.
“The continuing siege in northern Gaza is unconscionable, with a strong possibility that famine is imminent and humanitarian access severely restricted by the Israeli authorities,” he stated.
“We call for an end to the ongoing military operation in Gaza,” Mr. Martin added.
Latest stories from the Middle East
Meanwhile, a renewed effort by mediators from Egypt, Qatar, and the United States to cease hostilities and secure the release of Israeli and foreign hostages has gained traction this month, although no significant breakthroughs have been announced.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu mentioned yesterday that there has been progress in negotiations regarding hostages with Hamas, but he is uncertain about the timeline for results.
Israeli and Palestinian officials have noted that the gaps between Israel and Hamas concerning a potential ceasefire in Gaza have narrowed, yet significant differences remain unresolved.
