Ramallah: Human Rights and Democracy Media Center- SHAMS, affirmed that the daily targeting of the Palestinian refugee camps in the West Bank, by the Israeli occupation, is a manifestation of the Israeli crimes against Palestinians. The latest crimes within these attacks were committed today (Wednesday 17/1/2024) in Balatta Refugee Camp- Nablus, and Tulkarem Refugee Camp- Tulkarem. The two crimes resulted in killing 9 Palestinians (5 in Balatta and 4 in Tulkarem). At the time the occupation is proceeding in the genocide war against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, it conducts a genocide war against the Palestinian refugee camps in the Gaza Strip. The refugee camps have a significant symbol within the Palestinian mentality as they represent the case of resilience and a guarantee to ensure the right of return and right to self-determination of Palestinians. The Israeli occupation is attempting to impose control on the refugee camps to block their role within the history of Palestine, as the refugee camps represent a major feature of the Palestinian narration. Despite the crimes of genocide committed by the occupation against the refugee camps, it failed to eliminate the struggle of these camps and the struggle of Palestinians for national liberation and independence. The refugee camps symbolize the political essence of the Palestinian question.
SHAMS Center deplored the systematic targeting of the refugee camps in the West Bank (Jenin Refugee Camp, Nourshams, Aqbat Jaber, Balatta, Al- Fawwar, Askar, Jalazoun, Qalandia, and Shufaat). The Israeli army is proceeding to destroy the infrastructure and streets as well as demolish the mosques and houses. Additionally, the Israeli forces are killing civilians in cold blood and targeting the paramedical teams to prevent them from rescuing the wounded. The bodies of Palestinians killed are held by the occupation authorities in violation of the right of martyrs to be buried by their families. Mass arrest campaigns are conducted on a daily basis in the refugee camps as well as shelling these areas by Drones. These crimes take place while the world is watching silently with no measures taken to curb the Israeli crimes.
SHAMS Center stressed that the crimes of the Israeli occupation against the Palestinian refugee camps and their residents, represent a profound violation of international law and international humanitarian law. The Israeli crimes violate all the legal and ethical values. In particular, the Israeli occupation is violating Article 15 of the Geneva Fourth Convention- 1949, which stipulates: “All state parties should take measures to protect civil persons who are not involved in the hostilities and have nothing to do with the military actions”. Article 17 of the given Convention states: “The Parties to the conflict shall endeavour to conclude local agreements for the removal from besieged or encircled areas, of wounded, sick, infirm, and aged persons, children and maternity cases, and for the passage of ministers of all religions, medical personnel, and medical equipment on their way to such areas”. Article 18 of the Convention stipulates: “Civilian hospitals organized to give care to the wounded and sick, the infirm and maternity cases, may in no circumstances be the object of attack, but shall at all times be respected and protected by the Parties to the conflict”.
SHAMS Center calls on the United Nations, governmental and non-governmental institutions, and other organizations such as the International Red Cross Committee, Doctors Without Borders, and Amnesty International, to urgently take action, fulfil their duties, and exert pressure on the Israeli occupation government to stop its ongoing aggression on the refugee camps in the West Bank. It also urges them to compel the occupation government to adhere to the application of the rules of international humanitarian law in neutralizing civilians and civilian objects from conflict zones and to provide safe zones for their protection.