The Israeli incursions in Tulkarm are a series of ongoing Israeli military invasions and operations on the West Bank city of Tulkarm and the city's two camps (Tulkarm camp and Nur Shams camp) in 2023 and 2024, in part due to the city being the stronghold of the Tulkarm Brigade. The invasions of the city took place before and during the 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel that erupted on October 7, 2023. The Israeli invasion of Tulkarm was met with Palestinian, Arab, Islamic, and international condemnation.[1][2][3][4][5][6] One of the largest incursions occurred on October 19, 2023, which lasted for about thirty continuous hours, leaving thirteen Palestinians dead and more than thirty wounded, as well as causing extensive destruction to homes, streets and infrastructure.[7] The incursion on January 3, 2024, which lasted for about 40 hours, was also significant. Additional prominent incursion include the incursion on January 17, 2024, which lasted for about 45 continuous hours, leaving eight Palestinians dead and causing massive destruction, while the incursion of April 18, 2024 lasted for more than 60 continuous hours, leaving a large number of Palestinian citizens dead and causing immense destruction.[8] The continuous incursion on Tulkarm represented the largest, longest, most extensive, and most destructive invasions on the West Bank since the Second Intifada.[9]
The Israeli invasion of Tulkarm coincided with statements made by Israeli officials calling for the destruction of the city. On May 29, 2024, Israeli Finance MinisterBezalel Smotrich said that "terror must be eliminated everywhere, even if it means turning Tulkarm into a city like Gaza";[10][11][12] on May 30, 2024, Smotrich also said that "if terrorism continues, we will turn Tulkarm into a city like the Gaza Strip";[13] and on July 4, 2024, Smotrich again called for the destruction of Tulkarm, saying: "Tulkarm must become a city of ruins".[14]
March 2023
March 10, 2023 storming operation
On March 10, 2023, Israel announced a military operation in the city of Tulkarm, which includes the headquarters of the Tulkarm Brigade.[15] Violent armed clashes broke out in the city at dawn between members of the brigade and the invading Israeli army forces.[16][17] The clashes included members of the Tulkarm Brigade targeting Israeli army forces with explosive devices.[18] The Tulkarm Brigade said in a brief statement at dawn: Its members "are fighting the battle of the martyrs on the land of the city of Tulkarm. The sons of the Rapid Response are still fighting the battle of dignity and have inflicted casualties and losses on the enemy."[19]
May 2023
May 6, 2023 storming operation
On the morning of May 6, 2023, Israeli special forces carried out a military operation in Tulkarm camp in Tulkarm city and assassinated two Palestinians from the Qassam Brigades in Tulkarm Brigade after clashing with them. They were “Samir Salah al-Shafi’i” (22 years old) and “Hamza Jamil Khrioush” (22 years old). Israel accused them of carrying out several shooting operations against various checkpoints, settlements, and Israeli vehicles in the Tulkarm area.[20][21][22]
May 11, 2023 incursion
At dawn on May 11, 2023, Israel launched a large-scale military operation in the Nur Shams camp in the city of Tulkarm against the Tulkarm Brigade. The operation lasted for four hours with the participation of more than 200 Israeli soldiers. The operation left widespread destruction in the camp and resulted in the death of a 66-year-old Palestinian citizen.[23][24]
May 30, 2023 incursion
At dawn on May 30, 2023, Israel launched a large-scale military operation in the Nur Shams camp against the Tulkarm Brigade. At the time of the operation, this storming of the camp was the largest in years, and the military operation lasted for more than five hours while involving large Israeli military reinforcements and the assistance of bulldozers and reconnaissance aircraft. During the storming, an Israeli soldier from the Duvdevan Unit was moderately injured by an explosion caused by a homemade explosive device detonated by the Tulkarm Brigade.[25][26]
July 2023
July 24, 2023 incursion
At dawn and during the morning of Monday, July 24, 2023, Israel invaded the Nur Shams camp in the city of Tulkarm against the Tulkarm Brigade with more than 60 military vehicles, representing the largest raid on the city at the time since the Second Intifada. The Israeli forces destroyed the streets of the camp by bulldozing them with military bulldozers, with the invasion resulted in thirteen injuries on the Palestinian side. The Tulkarm Brigade also detonated explosive devices on Israeli vehicles in the city, including a highly explosive device on an Israeli military bulldozer, which damaged it.[27] Immediately after the withdrawal of the Israeli forces and the widespread destruction in its wake, Palestinian PresidentMahmoud Abbas issued instructions to undo the damage caused by the invasion. Crews from the Tulkarm Municipality, the Ministry of Public Works, the Ministry of Local Government, the Civil Defense, and the Energy Authority began working to repair the destroyed roads, water, electricity, and sewage lines. Following the Israeli withdrawal, the camp was inspected by the Minister of Local Government Majdi Al-Saleh, and the Director General of Civil Defense Major General Al-Abd Ibrahim Khalil, at the behest of the Palestinian Prime MinisterMohammad Shtayyeh, and under the directives of the Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas.[28][29][30][31][32][33][34]
August 2023
August 4, 2023 incursion
At dawn on Friday, August 4, 2023, Israel invaded the city of Tulkarm and the Tulkarm camp in the city. During the invasion, a Palestinian was killed in the area surrounding the flagpole square in the city.[35]
During the invasion, violent clashes broke out between the Israeli army and the Palestinian Tulkarm Brigade, and the Israeli army deployed its snipers in several buildings in and around Tulkarm camp, while the Tulkarm Brigade detonated explosive devices in Tulkarm camp.[35]
August 11, 2023 incursion
At dawn on Friday, August 11, 2023, the Israeli army invaded the city of Tulkarm and the Tulkarm camp in the city. During the invasion, a Palestinian was killed in the Al-Maslakh Street area of the city, and 8 other Palestinians were injured during the invasion, one of whom was described as critically injured. Violent clashes took place in the Tulkarm camp between the Israeli army and the Tulkarm Brigade.[36][37]
The Tulkarm Brigade stated: “Our heroic mujahideen continue to target the occupation forces and vehicles storming Tulkarm camp with heavy volleys of bullets and explosive devices on several fronts.” The Tulkarm Brigade added: “Our mujahideen in the engineering unit were able to detonate a number of explosive devices in the occupation vehicles and hit them directly.” The brigade also said: “With the determination of the true believers, our mujahideen were able to target an occupation army position inside Tulkarm camp with direct volleys of bullets, and our mujahideen were able to target the occupation snipers’ positions inside the camp with heavy volleys of bullets.”[37]
The head of the Palestinian National Council, Rawhi Fattouh, commented on what happened in Tulkarm, warning of an escalation of the situation by saying: “The continuation of this policy will lead to an escalation of the situation, and to more tension and instability that will affect everyone, and we will not suffer and pay the price alone.”[38]
August 20, 2023 incursion
Israel invaded the city of Tulkarm and the Tulkarm camp in the city at dawn on Sunday, August 20, 2023, which resulted in four Palestinians being injured with various injuries.[39][40] The invasion lasted for more than two hours.[41]
The Israeli army deployed its snipers in various neighborhoods and areas of the city, and the wounded Palestinians were transferred to Martyr Dr. Thabet Thabet Governmental Hospital and Al-Israa Specialized Hospital in the city.[41]
August 27, 2023 incursion
At dawn on Sunday, August 27, 2023, the Israeli army invaded the city of Tulkarm and the Tulkarm camp in the city. During the invasion, five Palestinians were injured, and the invasion continued for more than four continuous hours, with the participation of dozens of Israeli military vehicles.[42]
The Israeli army sent new military reinforcements to the city of Tulkarm and the Tulkarm camp in the city, while violent armed clashes took place around Thabet Thabet Hospital in the center of the city simultaneously with violent clashes in the Tulkarm camp.[43]
The Tulkarm Brigade reported that it had engaged in violent clashes with the Israeli army in Tulkarm camp. The Tulkarm Brigade said in a statement: “Our fighters were able to confront with all their might the occupation forces and vehicles that had penetrated the camp and targeted them with heavy and direct volleys of bullets. They carried out a number of ambushes and detonated a number of highly explosive (Saif 1) bombs on more than one axis. With God’s help and empowerment, the engineering unit in the brigade detonated a number of (Saif 1) bombs in the occupation vehicles, causing direct damage to them and directly damaging a vehicle.”[44]
September 2023
September 5, 2023 incursion
Israel invaded the city of Tulkarm and the city's Nur Shams camp at dawn on Tuesday, September 5, 2023, using more than 80 Israeli military vehicles that included bulldozers. The invasion resulted in the killing of a Palestinian and the injury of two others, one of whom was in critical condition.[45][46]
Israeli bulldozers razed the streets and infrastructure in the camp. Palestinian Minister of Public Works and Housing Muhammad Ziyara said on September 5, 2023, that “under the directives of the Palestinian President and Prime Minister, the Ministry’s crews began early hours to open the roads and assess the damage to the infrastructure and streets.”[47][48][49]
September 24, 2023 incursion
At dawn on Sunday, September 24, 2023, Israel returned and invaded the city of Tulkarm in addition to the city's Nour Shams camp. This invasion led to the killing of two Palestinians by Israeli forces, while an Israeli soldier was wounded during the invasion.[50][51][52]
Israeli bulldozers destroyed infrastructure and streets in Nour Shams camp, and Palestinian Minister of Public Works and Housing Muhammad Ziyara said: “Under the directives of President Mahmoud Abbas, crews began, since the morning hours, to open roads, secure buildings, and assess the damage to infrastructure and streets.”[53]
On September 24, 2023, the General Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation said in response to the Israeli invasion of Tulkarm that it “strongly condemns the escalation of crimes committed by the Israeli occupation forces in the occupied Palestinian territory, which today led to the martyrdom of two Palestinian youths and the destruction of infrastructure in the Nour Shams refugee camp east of Tulkarm.” The organization said that “these Israeli attacks constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity.” The organization also called on “the international community to pressure Israel, the occupying power, to put an end to its repeated crimes and violations and to provide international protection for the Palestinian people.”[2]
The Union of Radio and Television of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation also condemned this Israeli invasion of Tulkarm, according to a statement issued by the Union on September 24, 2023.[3]
October 2023
October 5, 2023 incursion
Two days before Hamas launched its incursion into Israel, Israeli forces invaded the Tulkarm refugee camp in Tulkarm on October 5, 2023. According to the Israeli military, this invasion resulted in five Israeli soldiers being injured by bomb explosions, three of whom were seriously injured and two of whom were moderately injured.[54][55]
October 19–20, 2023 incursion
On the thirteenth day of the Hamas attack on Israel, Israel launched a large-scale military operation on Tulkarm and the city's two camps (Nour Shams Camp and Tulkarm Camp). During the operation, thirteen Palestinians were killed and a number of others were injured, while an Israeli officer was killed and nine other soldiers were injured.[56]
November 2023
November 1, 2023 storming operation
At dawn on Wednesday, November 1, 2023, Israel stormed the city of Tulkarm, which led to the outbreak of violent armed clashes. During the storming, a Palestinian citizen was killed by Israeli army bullets.[57]
November 6, 2023 military operation
On November 6, 2023, the Israeli Yamam forces carried out a special operation in the city of Tulkarm, during which they assassinated Jihad Shehadeh, the commander of the Tulkarm Brigade Rapid Response Group, by firing about 100 bullets at the vehicle he was riding in. He was accompanied in the vehicle by Izz al-Din Raed Awad, the commander of the Tulkarm Brigade Al-Qassam Group, and the brigade members Moamen Saed Balawi and Qassem Muhammad Rajab. Their four bodies arrived at Thabet Thabet Hospital in the city of Tulkarm with several features missing and their limbs scattered due to the intensity of the bullets that were fired at them at point-blank range. Their deaths were announced by the Palestinian Ministry of Health.[58][59][60][61][62][63][64][65]
November 13–14, 2023 incursion
On the evening of November 13, 2023, Israel launched a large-scale military operation to invade several neighborhoods of Tulkarm city, including Tulkarm camp in the center of the city. The invasion continued for two days, lasting sixteen continuous hours. During the invasion, seven Palestinians were killed and twelve others were injured, four of whom were seriously injured according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. Dozens also suffered from asphyxia.[66][67][68]
First day of the incursion (November 13, 2023):
Israel began its invasion of the city of Tulkarm at approximately 10:00 pm PSST on Monday, November 13, 2023, with Israeli special forces storming the city primarily in the vicinity of the Tulkarm camp. A clash broke out, killing two Palestinians. This was followed by the entry of Israeli army forces into the city from the Khadouri crossing with dozens of military vehicles and bulldozers.[69]
Second day of the incursion (November 14, 2023):
At dawn, Israeli forces began using their military bulldozers to raze several streets in the city's neighborhoods and in Tulkarm camp, destroying Palestinian infrastructure and vehicles. Suicide drones also bombed several targets inside Tulkarm camp, killing and wounding a number of Palestinians.[70] On the morning of the same day, Israeli bulldozers began demolishing several memorials in the city; they destroyed the stone columns at the entrance to Tulkarm camp and completely destroyed the Yasser Arafat monument in the Zenobia Junction area of the city.[71][72]
On the afternoon of the same day, the violent clashes extended to the city center area, and Israeli forces fired tear gas canisters towards Thabet Thabet Hospital, which led to “dozens of citizens and medical staff suffering from suffocation,” according to a statement by the Palestinian Ministry of Health, before Israeli forces withdrew from the city.[73][74][75]
November 21–22, 2023 incursion
Coinciding with the ongoing Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip, Israel returned and invaded the neighborhoods of Tulkarm city, including Tulkarm camp. This invasion resulted in the killing of six Palestinians and the injury of many others.[76]
Course of the incursion:
At 11:30p.m. PSST on the evening of Tuesday, November 21, 2023, Israel invaded Tulkarm city, including Tulkarm camp. At dawn on Wednesday, November 22, 2023, Israeli forces bulldozed streets inside and around Tulkarm camp in the city using military bulldozers. Israeli suicide drones also bombed several targets inside Tulkarm camp, killing several Palestinians.[77][78]
During the invasion, Israeli forces imposed a comprehensive siege around Thabet Thabet Hospital and Al-Israa Specialized Hospital in the city. They also stormed the emergency department of Thabet Thabet Hospital and arrested one of the wounded patients inside. Israeli forces also searched multiple ambulances transporting the wounded to the city's hospitals.[79][80]
November 30, 2023 incursion
At approximately 1:00 AM PSST on Thursday, November 30, 2023, Israeli forces, accompanied by heavy military bulldozers and tracked vehicles, invaded the city of Tulkarm and its neighborhoods, including the Tulkarm camp. This invasion continued until 7:30 a.m., and resulted in the arrest of ten Palestinians from various parts of the city. This invasion of Tulkarm coincided with the 2023 Israel–Hamas ceasefire.[81][82][83]
During the invasion, Israeli forces surrounded the Thabet Thabet Governmental Hospital in the city, intercepted and searched several ambulances, and subjected their drivers to interrogation. They deployed snipers on the roofs of tall buildings in the city, and toured and stormed various streets and neighborhoods in the city. They dropped leaflets demanding that those wanted by Israel surrender themselves. Israeli military bulldozers also completely razed several streets in the eastern neighborhood of the city, which led to the destruction of city infrastructure and water, sewage, electricity, and communications networks. Following the Israeli withdrawal on the same day, the Minister of Local Government, Majdi al-Saleh, and the Mayor of Tulkarm, Riyad Awad, visit the destroyed streets to investigate their conditions.[84][85][86]
The Tulkarm Brigade announced that during the invasion, its fighters had targeted an Israeli infantry force in the Tulkarm camp with an explosive device, saying that it had caused “confirmed and serious injuries among Israeli soldiers.” The brigade also announced that its members had detonated a highly explosive device with an Israeli D9 military bulldozer, which it said had put it out of service.[87]
December 2023
December 6–7, 2023 incursion
Israeli forces returned to invade Tulkarm again, several days after their previous invasion. At approximately 11:40 PM PSST on Wednesday, December 6, 2023, Israel invaded the city's neighborhoods and two camps (Tulkarm Camp and Nour Shams Camp) with a large number of military vehicles and bulldozers. The invasion continued until approximately 7:30 AM on Thursday, December 7, 2023. During the invasion, Israel sent additional military reinforcements to the city.[88][89]
During the invasion, Israeli military bulldozers razed streets in the city and its two camps, caused power outages in several neighborhoods and large areas in the city.[90] The Israeli army also surrounded the Thabet Thabet Governmental Hospital in the center of the city and prevented ambulances and medical crews from leaving it. The Israeli army searched Palestinian ambulances in the city streets.[91]
During the invasion, the Tulkarm Brigade Rapid Response Group announced that it had injured two Israeli soldiers in Tulkarm camp during violent clashes.[92] The Tulkarm Brigade also said in a statement: “Our soldiers are still confronting the occupation forces throughout the city.”[93]
December 16–17, 2023 incursion
Israel invaded the city of Tulkarm and the city's two camps (Tulkarm camp and Nour Shams camp) Saturday evening, December 16, 2023, with several military vehicles accompanied by military bulldozers.[94] The invasion continued until approximately 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, December 17, 2023. This invasion resulted in the killing of five Palestinians in the Nour Shams camp, some of whom were killed by aerial bombardment from drones, while others were injured.[95][96][97]
During the invasion, violent clashes broke out between the Israeli army and the Tulkarm Brigade fighters, and Israeli military bulldozers razed several streets and infrastructure in the city's two camps, leaving "massive destruction." Israeli forces also partially destroyed four houses in the Nour Shams camp, and the Israeli army deployed snipers on the roofs of tall buildings in various parts of the city.[98]Mosques in Tulkarm called on citizens via loudspeakers to confront the Israeli forces.[99]
The Israeli army confirmed in a statement that it “carried out air operations in Tulkarm targeting a number of armed terrorist groups that opened fire, threw explosives, and threatened the lives of the forces.”[100]
The Tulkarm Brigade said that its fighters targeted Israeli forces on all fronts of the city, and that it had repeatedly ambushed Israeli soldiers and their vehicles with explosive devices.[101] The Tulkarm Brigade statement read: “Our soldiers are now confronting the Israeli forces storming the city of Tulkarm and its camps using Amir 1 explosive devices. Our fighters are targeting the occupation forces on all fronts and repeatedly ambushed enemy soldiers.”[102]
The Tulkarm Brigade managed to detonate an Israeli armored vehicle with an explosive device, which destroyed parts of it and caused debris to fall from it, forcing the Israeli army to withdraw it from Tulkarm. The Tulkarm Brigade said: “The explosive device directly hit the Tiger vehicle, which led to its detonation. These are its remains. This vehicle is known for transporting occupation soldiers. We confirm that the soldiers who were inside it were injured, despite the enemy’s concealment.”[103]
The Egyptian House of Representatives strongly condemned the Israeli storming of Tulkarm. The head of the Arab Affairs Committee in the House of Representatives, Egyptian MP Ahmed Fouad Abaza, said: “The storming of Tulkarm by large forces of the occupation army requires rapid intervention from the international community, with all its countries and organizations in general, and the United States of America in particular, to expedite the adoption of all measures to implement Egypt’s vision, led by PresidentAbdel Fattah el-Sisi, to force the occupation government to immediately stop its attacks against the Palestinians.”[4][104]
The national and Islamic forces in Tulkarm Governorate announced a comprehensive strike in all aspects of life for Sunday, December 17, 2023, in condemnation of the invasion and mourning for the souls of the Palestinian dead. With this invasion, the number of Palestinians killed by the Israeli army in Tulkarm since October 7, 2023 had reached 51.[99]
December 23–24, 2023 incursion
At 10:40 p.m. PSST on the evening of Saturday, December 23, 2023, Israel invaded the city of Tulkarm and the city’s two camps with dozens of military vehicles accompanied by “D9” military bulldozers coming from the city’s western axis (Crossing 104). This invasion continued until 6:30 a.m. on the morning of Sunday, December 24, 2023 on Christmas Eve.[105][106]
The Israeli army sent more military reinforcements amidst violent clashes between the army and the Palestinian Tulkarm Brigade. The invasion left behind destruction in the streets and infrastructure of the Nour Shams camp after it was leveled by Israeli military bulldozers. The bulldozers also destroyed a section of the city’s “Younis Roundabout,” and also destroyed private cars and civil and governmental facilities.[105][107]
The Tulkarm Brigade said that it blew up two Israeli military bulldozers in the Nour Shams camp with explosive devices, damaging them.[108]
December 25–26, 2023 incursion
Only a few hours after the Israeli army withdrew from Tulkarm in the previous invasion, the Israeli army returned and invaded the city and its two camps at approximately 11:10 p.m. PSST on Monday evening, December 25, 2023, with dozens of military vehicles and military bulldozers. This invasion continued until approximately 8:00 am on Tuesday morning, December 26, 2023.[109] The invasion resulted in the injury of an Israeli soldier during the violent clashes that erupted between the Israeli army and the Tulkarm Brigade.[110]
During the invasion, Israeli bulldozers destroyed walls, vehicles and streets in Nour Shams camp, while a UN vehicle was destroyed in the camp. The Israeli army blew up three Palestinian homes in the camp, and bombed a building under construction near the "Hamdallah Water Well" in the city with Energa missiles.[111][112][113]
December 27, 2023 incursion
Only a few hours after the previous Israeli withdrawal from the city of Tulkarm, the Israeli army returned and invaded the city and its two camps with dozens of military vehicles, wheeled and tracked military bulldozers at approximately 12:00 a.m. PSST on Wednesday morning, December 27, 2023. The invasion continued until approximately 7:15 a.m. in the morning of the same day, and resulted in the killing of six Palestinians in an airstrike in the Nour Shams camp, as well as the injury of multiple Palestinians.[114][115][116]
The invasion began with the Israeli army storming the city center, including the Orthodox Church, Khadouri Street, Gamal Abdel Nasser Square, and an old garage complex, occurring in parallel with storming the city’s Nour Shams camp. The invasion then extended to the city’s Tulkarm camp, with Israeli military bulldozers destroying infrastructure.[117][118]
During the invasion, the Israeli army bombed a target inside the Nour Shams camp with drones, killing six Palestinians and wounding others. The Israeli army also bombed an abandoned house in the city’s employee housing neighborhood with Energa shells and blew up a Palestinian vehicle.[119][120]
The Palestinian Red Crescent Society stated that the Israeli forces prevented its crews from reaching the Nour Shams camp. The Thabet Thabet Governmental Hospital in the city announced the arrival of all Palestinian victims and wounded from the invasion to the hospital an hour after the Israeli army prevented ambulances from reaching the hospital.[117]
The Palestinian factions in Tulkarm had declared a comprehensive strike day for all aspects of life in Tulkarm Governorate in mourning and condemnation of the invasion.[121][122]
Agence France-Presse reported that the Israeli army refused to immediately comment on its military operation in Tulkarm.[122]
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation released a statement on December 27, 2023 commenting on the Israeli invasion of Tulkarm, saying that it “strongly condemns the continued crimes of military aggression carried out by the Israeli occupation against the Palestinian people, which led to the martyrdom of six people in the city of Tulkarm.”[5]
The United Nations published in a statement on December 28, 2023, stating that “Israel used a drone against the population in Tulkarm.”[1]
December 30–31, 2023 incursion
Israel invaded the city of Tulkarm and its two camps at approximately 10:45 p.m PSST on Saturday evening, December 30, 2023. The invasion continued until 10:00 am on Sunday, December 31, 2023, the last day of the year 2023. Dozens of Israeli military vehicles, including tracked and wheeled military bulldozers, participated in the invasion, causing immense destruction especially in the Nour Shams Camp. Several Palestinians were injured as a result of this invasion, and dozens of others were arrested.[123][124][125]
Immediately after the Israeli army entered the city of Tulkarm, the Tulkarm Brigade issued a statement on December 30, 2023, saying, “We are fully prepared to confront this cowardly, fearful enemy who will pay dearly tonight for his crimes.”[126]
From the beginning of the invasion until its end, the Israeli army completely besieged both Al-Israa Specialized Hospital and Thabet Thabet Hospital in the city, while the army searched Palestinian ambulances heading to and from both hospitals.[127][128][129]
During the invasion, the Israeli army bombed two sites in the Nour Shams camp with drones, resulting in Palestinian casualties. Israeli drones also bombed two sites in the Tulkarm camp, resulting in two injuries, one of which was serious.[130][131][132]
This invasion caused massive destruction in the Nour Shams camp, including the demolition and bombing of ten houses of which some were multi-story buildings, the destruction of fifteen Palestinian vehicles, and complete destruction of the camp infrastructure. The Israeli army also destroyed Palestinian vehicles at the entrance to the Thabet Thabet Governmental Hospital in the city.[133]
January 2024
January 3–4, 2024 incursion
At approximately 12:05 a.m. PSST on Wednesday morning, January 3, 2024, Israel invaded the city of Tulkarm and the city’s two camps with dozens of military vehicles accompanied by D9 bulldozers and wheeled military bulldozers. At the time, the invasion was the largest, most widespread, longest, and most destructive invasion of Tulkarm since the Second Palestinian Intifada. This invasion led to immense destruction in the two camps, and the invasion continued for approximately forty continuous hours until approximately 3:45 pm on Thursday, January 4, 2024.[8] During the invasion, twenty-one Palestinians were injured, while Israel announced that three of its soldiers were injured, one of them seriously.[134][135]
At the beginning of the invasion, the Israeli army distributed leaflets announcing a “curfew until further notice,” and completely surrounded both the Al-Israa Specialized Hospital and the Thabet Thabet Hospital in the city, searching Palestinian ambulances heading to and from the hospitals, and checking the identities of all those entering and leaving the hospitals.[136][137]
An Israeli army drone fired a rocket into Tulkarm camp, wounding a number of citizens.[136] The army also opened fire on a gathering of journalists stationed opposite of the besieged Nour Shams camp.[138]
The Israeli military bulldozers caused immense massive destruction in Tulkarm camp and Nour Shams camp, including streets, infrastructure, residential buildings, and shops. In both the Tulkarm camp and the Nour Shams camp, the Israeli army almost entirely destroyed the camp’s streets and infrastructure. In Nour Shams camp, the Israeli army also blew up a hall and six houses, while destroying dozens of other houses.[8]
In this regard, Tulkarm Mayor Riyad Awad said: “The occupation deliberately destroyed the infrastructure in Tulkarm and Nour Shams camps, which caused power outages and water network outages, due to the occupation striking a number of main lines feeding the camps, in addition to bulldozing the streets and destroying the sewage network, and wastewater began to flow into the streets.” He also reported that, “The destruction of the water, electricity, sewage networks and streets constitutes a huge burden on the municipality.”[8]
A Fatah leader said, “Nour Shams camp witnessed massive destruction, as if an earthquake had struck it, and the losses amounted to tens of millions of dollars. What happened in the camp is similar to what is happening in the Gaza Strip. Houses were destroyed, they were tampered with, dozens of houses without windows or doors, the roads were completely destroyed and the infrastructure of electricity, water and sewage was bulldozed.” The leader added, “Part of the [ UNRWA]’s office was bulldozed and the UN flag was raised on it, without any respect for sanctity, and the mosques were also violated and desecrated.”[139]
The Commission of Prisoners’ Affairs and the Palestinian Prisoners’ Club confirmed that the field investigations carried out by the Israeli army against the residents of Nour Shams camp affected about 500 citizens, including children and women.[140]
The Palestinian Red Crescent Society said that its crews dealt with twenty-one injuries, seventeen of which were related to severe beatings and fractures during field arrests of young men, three injuries from shrapnel, and one injury from live bullets. The Palestinian Red Crescent Society also said that the Israeli army prevented Palestinian ambulance crews from reaching the injured despite its prior coordination through the International Committee of the Red Cross.[134]
The Tulkarm Brigade said that it detonated explosive devices against Israeli army forces, in addition to detonating a car bomb remotely on the main street in the Nour Shams camp directly against an Israeli force, which led to the killing and wounding of Israeli soldiers.[141][142]
The Israeli army announced that three of its soldiers were injured, one of them seriously, during the invasion, and several Israeli army vehicles were damaged, forcing the army to withdraw them from Tulkarm.[143][144]
January 8–9, 2024 incursion
On the evening of Monday, January 8, 2024, the joint Israeli Special Forces (the Israeli Army, the Israeli Police, and the Shin Bet) carried out an assassination operation against three young Palestinian men from the Tulkarm Brigade near the Al-Qaisi Mosque in Tulkarm.[145][146][147] Shortly after the assassination, Israel invaded the city of Tulkarm and its two camps on the same day at approximately 11:00 PM PSST on Monday, January 8, 2024. The invasion continued until 7:00 AM on Tuesday, January 9, 2024, and resulted in the injury of nine Palestinians by Israeli shelling.[148]
In an immediate response to the assassination, the Tulkarm Brigade announced the start of a "large-scale operation until further notice",[149] and the Palestinian Foreign Ministry commented on the scene of an Israeli military vehicle running over one of the three Palestinian dead after killing him, saying, "Running over a Tulkarm martyr is a moral degradation and a translation of official Israeli instructions and incitement, and reflects a fascist, colonial, racist mentality", while Hamas called it a "cowardly assassination".[150]
The invasion began with an intensive Israeli deployment in the center of Tulkarm city, with the Israeli army surrounding ambulances around Thabet Thabet Governmental Hospital in the city at the same time as the Israeli army beginning to impose a siege on Tulkarm camp. During the invasion, two Israeli bulldozers and two wheeled bulldozers began the process of leveling streets in the city of Tulkarm and inside the Tulkarm camp, such as the street leading in front of the Tulkarm Municipal Court and the Bilal bin Rabah Mosque in the city and other streets. The invasion then expanded to include the Nour Shams camp in the city, as the camp also witnessed the leveling of streets.[151][152]
The Tulkarm Brigade said that it detonated explosive devices against Israeli army vehicles and soldiers, including an explosive device that targeted an Israeli military bulldozer in Tulkarm camp, causing it to be damaged, which required the Israeli army to withdraw the damaged bulldozer from Tulkarm.[153][154][155][156]
During the invasion, the Israeli army bombed a house in Tulkarm camp with a drone, resulting in nine Palestinian injuries, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent.[157][158]
January 11–12, 2024 incursion
At approximately 10:15 p.m. on Thursday, January 11, 2024, the Israeli army invaded the city with dozens of military vehicles accompanied by four tracked and wheeled military bulldozers.[159][160] The invasion continued until approximately 7:00 am on Friday, January 12, 2024.[161][162]
The invasion led to widespread destruction of streets and infrastructure inside and around the city's Nour Shams camp, and Israeli bulldozers razed a section of "Al-Sikka Street" and the area around the "Iktaba Roundabout" in the city.[163][164] The Tulkarm Brigade said that it confronted the invasion in the Nour Shams camp and engaged in violent clashes.[165][166]
During the invasion, the Tulkarm Brigade detonated a "highly explosive" explosive device in an Israeli D9 bulldozer in the Nour Shams camp, setting it on fire. The Tulkarm Brigade said in a statement that the bulldozer had been "taken out of service, and those inside were killed and injured."[167] The Tulkarm Brigade also said that its engineering unit had "detonated an explosive device in a Nimr military jeep in the Nour Shams camp, which turned into a ball of flames, and achieved confirmed injuries."[168]
January 17–19, 2024 incursion
At approximately 4:30a.m. on Wednesday, January 17, 2024, Israel launched a massive invasion of the city of Tulkarm and the Tulkarm refugee camp in the city with dozens of Israeli military vehicles and bulldozers. The invasion extended to include the city's Nour Shams refugee camp, and continued until approximately 12:40a.m. on Friday, January 19, 2024, for approximately 45 continuous hours. The operation represented the longest and most violent invasion of Tulkarm since the Second Intifada.[9] The invasion resulted in the killing of eight Palestinians and the serious injury of others, while an Israeli soldier was seriously injured.[169][170][171]
The invasion began with the Israeli army completely besieging the Tulkarm camp in the city, and Israeli military bulldozers began a complete process of leveling the camp's streets. The Israeli army also besieged Thabet Thabet Governmental Hospital and the Al-Shifa Ambulance Center in the city center, Al-Israa Specialized Hospital in the western part of the city, and the Palestinian Red Crescent Emergency and Ambulance Center in the southern part of the city, searching Palestinian ambulances.[172]
Israeli drones bombed the city's Tulkarm camp several times during the invasion, killing four Palestinians immediately in an airstrike in Tulkarm camp.[173] Another Palestinian was killed during violent clashes in Tulkarm camp, while a sixth Palestinian was killed near Muscat School in an Israeli shooting attack on his vehicle,[174] a seventh Palestinian was killed in the city's Nour Shams camp,[175] and an eighth Palestinian was killed in Tulkarm camp after he was left bleeding on the ground for hours while Israeli forces prevented an ambulance from reaching him.[176]
Israeli drones also bombed a Palestinian ambulance belonging to the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, destroying it and injuring two of its crew members with moderate and serious injuries.[177]
The Israeli army reported that one of its soldiers was seriously injured in the violent clashes in Tulkarm camp and was transferred to the hospital to receive medical treatment. Several Israeli army vehicles were also damaged by explosive devices detonated by the Tulkarm Brigade, which forced the army to withdraw these vehicles from Tulkarm.[9]
The Israeli army forces launched a wide-scale arrest campaign that included dozens of residents of Tulkarm camp, and transferred them to a field investigation center on Al-Sikka Street. The Israeli bulldozers left behind unprecedented destruction in the streets, infrastructure, homes, and shops in Tulkarm camp. The Israeli army also blew up several homes in the camp.[178]
At approximately 3:30 pm on the same day, Wednesday, January 17, 2024, the large Israeli invasion extended to the city's Nour Shams camp, which also witnessed violent clashes and significant destruction in the streets and infrastructure as a result of several hours of demolition from bulldozers.[179][180] The invasion extended to the Nour Shams camp again at approximately 6:00 am on Thursday, January 18, 2024, which led to violent clashes in the camp, during which the Tulkarm Brigade detonated multiple explosive devices. Israeli bulldozers bulldozed streets and facilities in the camp again, and the Israeli army blew up houses in the camp, simultaneously with the violent armed clashes, detonation of explosive devices, and total siege of the Tulkarm camp.[181][182]
After 45 hours since the start of the invasion, Israel announced the end of this military operation, saying that its forces “searched about 1,000 buildings and found more than 400 explosive devices, some of which were buried under roads. Five laboratories for producing the charges and four monitoring centers were destroyed, and 37 wanted persons were arrested, including senior officials.”[183]
The UN spokesman commented on this invasion, saying that it resulted in "making more than 20 homes uninhabitable in the Nur Shams and Tulkarm refugee camps, in addition to civilian casualties."[184]
January 29–30, 2024 incursion
At approximately 9:50 pm on Monday, January 29, 2024, Israel invaded the city of Tulkarm and the city's two camps with dozens of military vehicles and bulldozers. The invasion continued until approximately 5:40 am on Tuesday, January 30, 2024. This invasion left behind extensive destruction to the streets and infrastructure, and caused a widespread interruption of the water network in the city and its two camps for days.[185][186]
Israeli military bulldozers (two crawler bulldozers and two wheeled bulldozers) razed streets in the city and the camps. They razed a section of Al-Sikka Street in the city, in addition to razing streets inside Nour Shams camp and Tulkarm camp. The bulldozers also destroyed the entrances to the Al-Salam Mosque and the Muadh bin Jabal Mosque in Tulkarm camp.[187][188]
February 2024
6–7 February 2024 incursion
Israel invaded the city of Tulkarm at approximately 11:40 Palestine time on Tuesday evening, February 6, 2024, with the invasion focusing on the city's Nour Shams camp. The invasion continued until approximately 5:40a.m. on Wednesday, February 7, 2024. Dozens of Israeli military vehicles, including tracked and wheeled military bulldozers, participated in the invasion, leaving massive destruction in the streets of Nour Shams camp.[189] At approximately 1:30p.m. on the same day, Israel returned and invaded the city of Tulkarm, specifically Nour Shams camp, with special forces followed by reinforcements and bulldozers, where it carried out an assassination operation against three Palestinians after besieging them in a building in Nour Shams camp. The operation continued until 7:40p.m. on the same day.[190]
The three Palestinian dead were Moatasem Ali Dama (a commander in the Tulkarm Brigade), his cousin Islam Ibrahim Ali Dama, and Ziad Ali Hashem Dama. They were assassinated after being surrounded by the Israeli army in a house at the Nour Shams camp. The Israeli army bombed the house with missiles and destroyed it with bulldozers. The Palestinian Ministry of Health later announced their deaths.[191]
The Palestinian Red Crescent reported that the Israeli army had prevented ambulances from entering the Nour Shams camp to evacuate the dead and wounded during this large-scale military operation.[192]
February 18, 2024 incursion and special military operation
Israeli special forces carried out a raid and special military operation at the Tulkarm camp in Tulkarm city on Sunday morning, February 18, 2024, which resulted in the killing of two Palestinians and the wounding of others by gunfire. Israeli forces assassinated the leader of the Tulkarm Brigade, Muhammad Ahmad Fayez Al-Awfi, and his companion after besieging them in a house, while an Israeli soldier was seriously injured.[193][194][195]
At approximately 10:00 PSST on Sunday morning, February 18, Israeli special forces stormed Tulkarm camp in Tulkarm city in two civilian vehicles and surrounded the house, followed by large Israeli military reinforcements and three Israeli military bulldozers.[196] The first bulldozer was wheeled, the second was tracked, and the third was a truck-mounted excavator.[197] The invasion continued until approximately 1:45 pm, when the Israeli army forces withdrew while taking the body of Al-Awfi with them.[198] The Palestinian Red Crescent Society said that the Israeli army obstructed the work of medical crews and prevented ambulances from reaching the wounded in the camp.[198]
The Israeli army announced in an official statement that an Israeli soldier was seriously injured during clashes with Palestinian gunmen in the Tulkarm camp during this military operation.[193] An Israeli military helicopter had landed in the vicinity of Tulkarm city to evacuate Israeli army casualties.[199][200]
March 2024
March 3–4, 2024 incursion
On the evening of March 3, 2024, Israel invaded the city of Tulkarm, focusing specifically on the city's Nour Shams camp. The invasion continued until the dawn of March 4, 2024. Several Israeli military vehicles and military bulldozers participated in the invasion, leaving behind massive destruction, especially in a part of the city's "Nablus Street", which the Israeli army had dug several meters underground under.[201]
The invasion led to violent clashes between the Tulkarm Brigade and the Israeli army, during which the Tulkarm Brigade detonated "highly explosive" devices that damaged two Israeli "Tiger" armored personnel carriers and also damaged an Israeli wheeled military bulldozer, which required the Israeli army to withdraw it from Tulkarm by towing it with a crawler military bulldozer.[202][203][204]
March 9, 2024 incursion
Israel invaded the city of Tulkarm, and in particular the city's Nour Shams camp, at approximately 12:30a.m. on March 9, 2024, with dozens of Israeli military vehicles and tracked and wheeled military bulldozers. The invasion continued until approximately 8:15a.m. on the same day, leading to massive destruction of the infrastructure and streets of Tulkarm.[205]
During the invasion, Israeli military bulldozers completely razed the city's "Saif Roundabout" and "Bir al-Hamdallah Roundabout" streets, and violent clashes broke out between the Tulkarm Brigade and the Israeli army. The Tulkarm Brigade also detonated "highly explosive" explosive devices, one of which directly hit an Israeli military bulldozer, forcing the Israeli army to withdraw it from Tulkarm by towing it with another military bulldozer.[206][207]
March 11, 2024 incursion
Only a few hours passed since the last invasion before the Israeli army returned at approximately 12:15 AM on Monday, March 11, 2024, the first day of Ramadan in the Palestinian territories.[206][208] The invasion continued until approximately 6:35 AM on the same day. This invasion led to massive destruction of the streets and infrastructure in the city of Tulkarm and the city's two camps.[209]
The invasion began with Israeli military bulldozers bulldozing the “Sariat Al-Alam” roundabout in Tulkarm before besieging the city's Nour Shams camp, which witnessed violent clashes between the Tulkarm Brigade and the Israeli army, involving the Tulkarm Brigade detonating highly explosive devices.[210] The Israeli army also bulldozed several streets in the Nour Shams camp in addition to bulldozing the “Saif Roundabout” in the city for the second time in less than two days, while firing flares into the sky at the site.[208]
At dawn, Israeli army forces moved to the Tulkarm camp in the city and began fierce clashes against the Tulkarm Brigade, coinciding with Israeli military bulldozers once again completely destroying the main streets and infrastructure in the Tulkarm camp.[211]
March 20–21, 2024 incursion
At approximately 10:20 pm PSST on Wednesday, March 20, 2024, Israel invaded the city of Tulkarm and the city's Nour Shams camp with more than fifty military vehicles accompanied by heavy military bulldozers.[212] The invasion continued until approximately 8:45 am on Thursday, March 21, 2024, and resulted in the killing of four Palestinians and the injury of several others, in addition to the heavy destruction of the city's streets.[213][214][215]
A few hours before the invasion, Israel had bulldozed the street surrounding the Al-Murabitun Mosque in the city twice on Wednesday, March 20, 2024.[216] Following this, the invasion began with the Israeli army besieging the city center and the Nour Shams camp in the city, where Israeli army vehicles were deployed on Paris Street, the area around Thabet Thabet Square, and the area around Tulkarm Governmental Hospital in the city center.[217]
At the beginning of the invasion, the Israeli army bombed a target in the Nour Shams camp with a drone, killing two Palestinians immediately and wounding others. The Israeli army then killed two more Palestinians during violent armed clashes in the camp.[218][219]
The Israeli army declared a curfew in the Nour Shams camp, deployed snipers in the area, turned several houses into military barracks, and demolished the home of a wanted Palestinian.[220][221]
This invasion led to the largest recorded amount of destruction to the streets of Tulkarm city, as Israeli military bulldozers razed streets, causing immense damage.[220] Streets that were destroyed included the street surrounding the Al-Murabitun Mosque, the section of Al-Sikka Street extending from the Bir Al-Hamdallah Roundabout to the Saif Roundabout, the street surrounding the Saif Roundabout, and the section of Nablus Street extending from Saif Roundabout to the end of Nour Shams Camp.[219][222]
April 2024
April 8, 2024 incursion
At approximately 1:00 AM PSST on Monday morning, April 8, 2024 (the dawn of day 29 of Ramadan), Israel invaded the city of Tulkarm and the Tulkarm camp with dozens of military vehicles and bulldozers. The invasion continued until approximately 5:30 AM on the same day, and left behind destruction to infrastructure and streets.[223][224]
The Israeli army completely surrounded the Tulkarm camp in the city, leading to violent clashes breaking out which included several explosions. Israeli tracked and wheeled bulldozers also razed a section of the street in front of the Al-Murabitun Mosque in the city, a section of the street surrounding the Al-Alam Roundabout, and a section at the beginning of Al-Balawneh Street around the Tulkarm camp. Israeli army vehicles were deployed in the city center, specifically in the Gold Market area and Gamal Abdel Nasser Square.[225][226][227]
April 18–20, 2024 incursion
On the evening of April 18, 2024, Israeli army forces invaded the city of Tulkarm and the Nour Shams camp from the western axis of the city, accompanied by military bulldozers. Israeli forces surrounded the Nour Shams camp, passing through the square of Al-Alimi court, Al-Quds Open University Street, Nablus Street, Iktaba roundabout, and the employees’ housing. The Israeli army imposed a tight siege on the Nour Shams camp, deployed its vehicles on all the axes of the camp leading to it, and closed the main street adjacent to its entrances. At the same time, reconnaissance aircraft flew over the camp at a low altitude.[228]
During the second day of the invasion on April 19, 2024, three Israeli soldiers were injured during an exchange of fire with Palestinian resistance fighters in the camp, and the Israeli army continued to raid a number of homes while carrying out arrest operations.[229]
During the third day of the invasion on April 20, 2024, the Israeli army spokesman announced that nine Israeli soldiers were wounded with varying degrees of injury by Palestinian gunfire in the Nour Shams camp.[230][231][232]
At approximately 11:30p.m. on the third day of the invasion, the Israeli army withdrew from Tulkarm, marking the end of the longest, largest, and most violent invasion into the city up to that point since the Second Intifada. Palestinian ambulances were able to enter the camp after the Israeli army vehicles withdrew, retrieving the bodies of fourteen dead Palestinians. The Palestinian Ministry of Health announced that their bodies arrived at the Thabet Thabet Governmental Hospital.[233]
On April 19, the Palestinian presidency condemned what it described as “the new crime committed by the Israeli occupation forces in the city of Tulkarm, including the Nour Shams and Tulkarm camps.” On April 20, 2024, the head of the Palestinian National Council, Rawhi Fattouh, condemned what he described as “the heinous crime and massacre.”[234][235]
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation said it “strongly condemns the military aggression” on the Nour Shams camp in Tulkarm in a statement on April 20, and renewed its “call on the international community to assume its responsibilities towards obliging the occupation forces to stop their military aggression and ongoing violations throughout the occupied Palestinian territories and to provide protection to the Palestinian people.”[236]
May 2024
May 6, 2024 incursion
At approximately 12:20 AM Palestine Summer Time (PSDT) on Monday, May 6, 2024, the Israeli army invaded the city of Tulkarm and the city's two camps with dozens of military vehicles accompanied by five wheeled and tracked military bulldozers. The invasion continued until approximately 11:00 p.m. on the same day. This invasion resulted in the killing of a Palestinian by Israeli army gunfire and the injury of others, in addition to the destruction of infrastructure and streets.[237][238]
The invasion of Tulkarm city began with the Israeli army besieging the Nour Shams camp and bulldozing streets in the camp before completely besieging Tulkarm camp, blowing up houses in it and bulldozing entire streets inside of it. The Israeli army also bulldozed streets in the city, including the street in front of the entrance to the Tulkarm District headquarters. The Israeli army besieged the downtown area that includes Thabet Thabet Hospital, which the Israeli army also besieged.[239][240]
The Israeli army blew up a medical center belonging to the Palestinian Red Crescent Society inside the Tulkarm camp.[241]
May 16, 2024 storming operation
At approximately 12:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 16, 2024, PSDT, Israel stormed the center of Tulkarm city, accompanied by a military bulldozer. The Israeli army was stationed in the areas surrounding Gamal Abdel Nasser Square, Tulkarm Orthodox Church, the International Red Cross headquarters, the entrance to Thabet Thabet Governmental Hospital, Thabet Thabet Square, Shuweika Roundabout, and Bank Street. The Israeli army deployed snipers on the roofs of tall buildings in the center of the city, which led to the killing of three Palestinians by gunfire in the city center and the injury of at least five others.[242][243] The raid continued until approximately 3:40 a.m., during which the Israeli army raided a number of exchange offices in the city and completely blew up one of these offices.[244] A general strike spread throughout Tulkarm Governorate on Thursday, May 16, 2024, in response to a call to action from the Palestinian national and Islamic forces.[245][246]
July 2024
July 1, 2024 incursion
At 3:45 PSDT on Monday morning, July 1, 2024, Israel invaded the city of Tulkarm, Nour Shams camp, and the entrance to Tulkarm camp in the city with dozens of military vehicles accompanied by four bulldozers, two of which were tracked. The invasion continued until 1:00 pm on the same day. The invasion left massive destruction to the infrastructure, streets, traffic light network, main water lines, and caused the postponement of the Palestinian high school exam. The invasion also led to the killing of two Palestinians (a child and a woman) and the injury of others. Israel announced the killing of one of its soldiers and the injury of others during the invasion, in addition to the bombing and significant destruction of an Israeli " Tiger " vehicle. This invasion came only hours after an Israeli air strike on a house in the Nour Shams camp on Sunday afternoon, June 30, 2024, which led to the killing of "Saeed Jaber", one of the leaders of the Tulkarm Brigade.[247][248][249][250]
The invasion began with the destruction by Israeli bulldozers of the Al-Younis Roundabout area in Tulkarm, followed by the destruction of Al-Sikka Street and Iktaba Roundabout in the city. After that, the Israeli forces and their bulldozers moved to Nablus Street in the city, which they largely destroyed. The Israeli army once again razed what remained of the “Saif Roundabout” area after completely destroying it twice in March 2024.[251][252]
The Israeli forces then penetrated deeper into the Nour Shams camp, causing violent clashes to erupt with the Tulkarm Brigade detonated explosive devices, one of which hit an Israeli armored vehicle, destroying it "significantly" and injuring those inside.[253] This prompted the Israeli army to bring in a heavy military logistical vehicle to tow the damaged vehicle.[254] The Israeli army also transferred its wounded soldiers from Tulkarm to the Israeli Sna'oz camp adjacent to the city, followed by the landing of an Israeli military helicopter in the camp, transporting the wounded soldiers. On the same day, Israel announced the death of one of its soldiers, 22-year-old Major Yehuda Gato, the driver of the vehicle, and the serious injury of another as a result of the explosion, all of whom belonged to the Duvdevan unit as part of the Oz Brigade.[255][256][257][258]
At noon, the intensity of armed clashes between Tulkarm Brigade members and the Israeli army escalated at the entrance to Tulkarm camp as Israeli vehicles and bulldozers surrounded the entrance to the camp, which led to the killing of two Palestinians (a child and a woman) in Tulkarm camp by Israeli army bullets. Several Palestinians were also injured in the city's neighborhoods and camps, as announced by the director of Tulkarm Governmental Hospital and the Palestinian Ministry of Health.[259][260] In addition, Israeli bulldozers destroyed the traffic light network in the Zenobia Junction area in the center of the city at noon.[261]
The Palestinian Ministry of Education had announced at eight o'clock a.m. the postponement of the unified Palestinian high school exam (English language exam) in the morning for all schools in Tulkarm Governorate due to the ongoing Israeli invasion of Tulkarm, which was planned to be administered that morning.[262][263]
Hours prior to this, Israel had bombed a house in the city's Nour Shams camp on Sunday afternoon, June 30, 2024, with three missiles from an aircraft. The missiles killed Saeed Jaber, the leader of the Tulkarm Brigade, and wounded five other Palestinians who were taken to the Tulkarm Governmental Hospital, with two in critical condition.[264][265]
A few hours after the Israeli withdrawal, the Israeli army bombed the Nour Shams camp with a drone on the evening of Tuesday, July 2, 2024, instantly killing four Palestinians.[266][267]
July 9, 2024 incursion
Destruction caused by the IDF in Nablus Street and Nour Shams Camp, Tulkarm, in July 2024
On Tuesday, July 9, 2024, Israel invaded the city of Tulkarm and the city's Nour Shams camp with dozens of military vehicles accompanied by seven military bulldozers. The invasion continued until around afternoon on the same day. The invasion left immense destruction in the streets and infrastructure. The destruction was described as the largest in the history of the West Bank since Israel's occupation of the territory in 1967.[268][269]
The invasion began with the Israeli army completely besieging both the government hospital and the Israa Specialized Hospital in the city center. The army deployed its vehicles in the commercial market area in the city center, checked the identities of journalists while they were covering the events, and deployed its snipers in several buildings. The army also besieged the Tulkarm camp in the city, and caused significant disruption to the city's communications and internet networks.[270][271]
Four military bulldozers worked collectively to completely destroy the Younis Roundabout square in the middle of the city, which led to the disappearance of its features and the destruction of its infrastructure.[272] The bulldozers, including the excavator, swept away Nablus Street in the area adjacent to the Nour Shams camp, turning it into a trench more than three meters deep and completely destroying it in addition to shops, homes, electricity, communications, internet, sewage, and water lines.[273][274] The bulldozers also destroyed the Saif Roundabout square area and the surrounding shops, destroying it completely for the fourth time since March 2024. At the same time, the bulldozers penetrated deep into the Nour Shams camp and destroyed several homes and streets in it.[275] The Israeli army also withdrew a damaged military vehicle in the camp after an explosive device was detonated near it by the Tulkarm Brigade.[276]
Following the Israeli withdrawal, the Tulkarm Municipality announced that “Nour Shams Camp in Tulkarm City is officially considered a disaster area.”[277] The National Action Movement announced that the city of Tulkarm and its two camps were now a disaster area in need of urgent reconstruction and consular visits.[278]
The Palestinian government condemned what it described as Israeli aggression on Tulkarm and the unprecedented destruction of the Nour Shams camp, the infrastructure, and the main electricity and water lines in the city.[279] The National Union of Civil Society Organizations in Tulkarm Governorate also called on the Palestinian government to urgently invite consuls and international institutions to see the extent of the destruction brought on the city.[280]
The Minister of Local Government, Sami Hijjawi, the Minister of Public Works, Ahed Bseiso, and the Director General of Civil Defense, Al-Abed Ibrahim Khalil, inspected the extent of the destruction in Nour Shams camp.[281][282] Palestinian governmental and civil institutions announced that Israel had completely or partially destroyed dozens of Palestinian homes in the Nour Shams camp.[283]
July 22–23, 2024 incursion
Israel invaded the city of Tulkarm and the Tulkarm refugee camp in the city at approximately 10:45 p.m. on July 22, 2024, with dozens of Israeli military vehicles and seven military bulldozers.[284] The invasion continued until approximately 1:30 p.m. on July 23, and resulted in massive destruction, the “widest and most severe” to the infrastructure and streets in the center of the city and the Tulkarm camp. The devastation also led to the interruption of electricity, communications, the Internet, and water for long hours in many of the city’s neighborhoods, including Tulkarm camp. Five Palestinians were killed and many others were seriously injured.[285][286]
In Tulkarm camp, the invasion of the camp began with the Israeli army entering the city from its western and southern axes.[287] Israeli bulldozers destroyed the infrastructure and streets in the camp, and an Israeli drone bombed the camp, killing five Palestinians that including two commanders in the Tulkarm Brigade.[288] The Israeli army spokesman said in a brief statement that “an air force plane attacked gunmen during the military operation” and the Tulkarm Brigade announced that it had detonated several explosive devices, one of which hit an Israeli bulldozer and damaged it, which prompted the Israeli army to drag it out of Tulkarm using another bulldozer.[285][289]
In the city center, Israeli bulldozers razed part of Government Hospital Street in addition to Muqata’a Street and two Israeli tracked bulldozers destroyed the vegetable market in the city center and the vicinity of Gamal Abdel Nasser Square.[285]
In the western neighborhoods of the city, two Israeli bulldozers destroyed the electricity, communications, and internet networks, poles, and cables on Yaffa Street, Al-Fadhiliyah Street, Khadouri Roundabout, and Hilmi Hanoun School Street, and also demolished part of the wall of Hilmi Hanoun School, while crushing nearby parked vehicles and uprooting trees.[284][285]
In the eastern neighborhoods of the city, Israeli bulldozers destroyed Muqata’a Street, destroyed the Martyrs’ Monument, demolished part of the wall of the Local Government and Public Works Directorates, bulldozed the Abu Safiya Junction Street along with other streets, and destroyed several parked vehicles.[285][290]
The Israeli army described the invasion as a military operation in a series of counter-terrorism operations in Tulkarm, while Palestinian Prime Minister Muhammad Mustafa condemned what he called a "brutal attack" on Tulkarm during the weekly government session on the morning of July 23, 2024.[291][292]
August 2024
August 3, 2024 incursion
At approximately 4:50 am on Saturday, August 3, 2024, the Israeli army entered accompanied by bulldozers and completely destroyed the “Al-Alimi Roundabout” (the Palestinian flagpole square) in the city and its surroundings, leading to its comprehensive destruction. The Israeli army then withdrew from the city at approximately 5:50 a.m., killing five Palestinians north of the governorate in an airstrike.[293] The Israeli army then returned at 10:00 a.m and invaded the city in a more widespread area, including the Tulkarm camp. The invasion continued until 2:00 p.m., during which the Israeli army killed four more Palestinians in a new airstrike east of the city and bringing the Palestinian death toll to nine, in addition to massive destruction.[294][295]
This invasion led to great destruction in the western and eastern neighborhoods of the city and the Tulkarm camp in the center of the city. In the eastern neighborhoods, Israeli bulldozers destroyed several walls and completely smashed many vehicles. In the western neighborhoods, forces completely razed the Al-Alimi Roundabout and its surroundings. In the Tulkarm camp, bulldozers again razed the streets of the camp, leaving great destruction amidst violent clashes.[296][297][298]
Tulkarm or Tulkarem is a Palestinian city in the West Bank, the capital of the Tulkarm Governorate of the State of Palestine. The Israeli city of Netanya is to the west, and the Palestinian cities of Nablus and Jenin to the east. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, in 2017 Tulkarm had a population of 64,532. Tulkarm is under the administration of the Palestinian National Authority.
Tulkarm Camp is a Palestinian refugee camp north of the West Bank in the city of Tulkarm, established in 1950 on 0.18 km2 by the UNRWA. It is the second largest refugee camp in the West Bank, as well as one of the most densely populated. The camp was severely affected during the Second Intifada by incursions, arrests, raids and curfews. Incursions still take place, though on a more irregular basis. In 2013, the health centre was reconstructed with project funds amounting to US$1.7 million. Tulkarm camp has four UNRWA schools.
First Picture (2006) is a documentary film by Akram Al-Ashqar. It was shown at the Copenhagen International Film Festival on 15 November 2007, It follows the story of a Palestinian child from Tulkarm Camp for the Palestinian refugees. Born in one of the Israeli prisons, he spent more than two and a half years there. Then, he was separated from his mother who is still remaining arrested in prison by the Israeli Authorities, the moment when the child starts an adventure of discovering the natural life under the protection of his father and family and the companions of the released prisoner mates of his mother, being still very affected by the memories of his experience in prison.
Nur Shams is a Palestinian refugee camp in the Tulkarm Governorate in the northwestern West Bank, located three kilometers east of Tulkarm. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, Nur Shams had a population of 6,479 inhabitants in 2007 and 6,423 by 2017. 95.1% of the population of Nur Shams were refugees in 1997. The UNRWA-run healthcare facility for Nur Shams camp was re-built in 1996 with contributions from the Government of Germany.
The Jenin refugee camp, also known as the Jenin camp, is a Palestinian refugee camp located in the city of Jenin in the northern West Bank. It was established in 1953 to house Palestinians who fled or were expelled from their homes by Israeli forces during and in the aftermath of the 1948 Palestine War. The camp has since become a stronghold of Palestinian militants and has become known as "the martyr's capital" by Palestinians, and "the hornets' nest" by Israelis.
Martyr Dr. Thabet Thabet Governmental Hospital or Tulkarm Governmental Hospital is a government hospital in Tulkarm, West Bank, Palestine. It is under the jurisdiction of the Palestinian Ministry of Health. It was built in 2004 and has 158 medical beds. It employs 317 staff, including a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, physiotherapist, laboratory technician, radiologist and others.
The Jenin Brigades, or Jenin Battalion, is a Palestinian militant group. It was founded in Jenin in 2021 by Jamil Al-Amouri, a militant of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ). The organization is based in the Jenin refugee camp in the North of the West Bank.
The Palestinian Joint Operations Room, also known by its full name Joint Room for Palestinian Resistance Factions, is a united front for the military wings of the Palestinian armed factions. It includes armed groups from various backgrounds, and ideologies from both the right and the left, including Islamists, socialists, nationalists, and others.
During the Israel–Hamas war, Israeli forces have carried out multiple ground incursions, occasionally accompanied by airstrikes, into several Palestinian cities and refugee camps in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, including Jenin and Tulkarm. The Israeli incursions have led to clashes with Palestinian militants. Over 600 West Bank Palestinians have been killed by Israel since the conflict began, including 75 children. The United Nations recorded more than 800 Israeli settler attacks on Palestinians between October 2023 and May 2024. Israel has arrested an estimated 10,000 West Bank Palestinians between 7 October 2023 and August 2024. On 15 December, Doctors Without Borders reported 2023 was the deadliest year for Palestinians in the West Bank in recorded history.
Fursan Mahmoud Abdullah Khalifa was a senior Palestinian military commander of Hamas and the Qassam Brigades. He was born in Tulkarm to a prominent senior Hamas leader and military commander. He was in detention under the Israeli government from 2003 until 2011, when he was released as part of the Gilad Shalit prisoner exchange, and was deported to the Gaza Strip. He was later assassinated by the IDF during Operation Iron Sword.
Jihad Maharaj Ibrahim Abdul Wahab Shehadeh was a Palestinian military commander and co-founder of the Tulkarm Battalion. He was one of Israel's most wanted, as he was accused of directing and carrying out a series of shootings at IDF forces at Israeli military checkpoints.
Ibn Sina Specialized Hospital is a hospital of the Al Arab Hospitals Group Co. Ltd in the State of Palestine. The hospital was opened on October 11, 2021 and located in the northern West Bank city of Jenin.
Amir Imad Amin Abu Khadijeh was a Palestinian militant and former leader of the Tulkarm Brigade. He was from the city of Tulkarm. According to Israeli sources, Khadijeh, who was involved in multiple shooting incidents towards civilians in the area and security forces operating at the Tanim checkpoint, was located and targeted by Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), Border Police Anti-Terrorism units, following intelligence gathered by the Shin Bet. The operation took place in a village near Tulkarm. As the forces surrounded the house where Abu Khadijeh was hiding, he attempted to shoot at undercover Border Police officers from a window but was shot and wounded. The forces entered the apartment, and Abu Khadijeh, attempting to shoot again, was killed.
The Tulkarm Brigade or Tulkarm Battalion is a Palestinian militant group which is affiliated with various Palestinian political factions. The Tulkarm Brigade appeared first in March 2022 in the Palestinian city of Tulkarm in the West Bank, and is based in the city of Tulkarm and its camps. The battalion was established in late 2021 as a group for the Al-Quds Brigades, although it became independent in March 2022 with its founder Saif Abu Labdeh. Many fighters from Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades joined this group, and in early 2023 many Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades members joined the battalion under the name "Rapid Response Group" founded by Amir Abu Khadijeh.
On 26 July 2024, the security forces of the Palestinian Authority encircled the Martyr Dr. Thabet Thabet Governmental Hospital in the West Bank city of Tulkarm, allegedly attempting to arrest Mohammed Jaber aka "Abu Shujaa", the leader of the Tulkarm Brigade who was hospitalized inside. Clashes between the security forces and West Bank militias broke out in Tulkarm as a crowd of Palestinian civilians arrived at the hospital aiming to break the alleged siege, marking a significant escalation of the typically more muted conflict between the Palestinian Authority and local militant groups. The confrontations, which sparked further unrest across the West Bank, took place amidst the backdrop of the ongoing Israel-Hamas war and its spillover into the region.
In late July 2024, a significant escalation of violence between the Palestinian Authority and Palestinian militants and protestors erupted in various areas in the West Bank. The unrest began after Palestinian Authority security forces encircled a Tulkarm hospital on 26 July and allegedly attempted to arrest the militant leader Abu Shujaa, who was hospitalized inside.
Alaa Adeeb Abdel-Jabbar Shreiteh was a Palestinian militant. Born and raised in Tulkarm, he was the head of the Al-Qassam Brigades in the West Bank until his death. Having been imprisoned by Israel for 14 years until his release in 2016, he led the planning of several Palestinian offensive operations against Israeli forces during the Israel–Hamas war, one of the most notable being the attack on Route 557 in the Tulkarm Governorate, which caused several Israeli casualties and was the first recorded Palestinian operation in the West Bank in 20 years, leading to him becoming one of Israel's most wanted until his death in a gunfight in an Israeli raid on Deir al-Ghusun.
Since 28 August 2024, Israel has launched a large-scale military operation in the occupied West Bank.
Mohammed Samer Mahmoud Jaber, better known by his nom de guerreAbu Shujaa, was a Palestinian militant from the Israeli-occupied West Bank. A popular and well-known figure among many Palestinians, he served as the leader of the Tulkarm Brigade from April 2022 until he was killed in an IDF raid in August 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
Israel 
