Israeli army raids Burqin, destroys Palestinian home after storming town near Jenin
Israel's military operation in the occupied northern West Bank entered its 17th day on Wednesday as forces continued raiding Palestinian homes.
The offensive, which began on Jan. 21 in Jenin and its refugee camp, has killed 25 Palestinians as of Tuesday morning. On Jan. 27, the army expanded operations to Tulkarem, killing four more Palestinians, before advancing into the Tammun and Al-Far'a refugee camps in Tubas Governorate on Sunday.
In the early hours of Thursday, Israeli forces raided Burqin, southwest of Jenin, stormed a Palestinian home, and detonated it, according to eyewitnesses.
Drones continued to fly over the besieged Jenin refugee camp, with explosions echoing across the area, witnesses reported.
In Tulkarem, Israeli forces destroyed parts of the city's infrastructure, converted several homes into military barracks, and forced hundreds of families to flee.
Official figures indicate that 75% of the Tulkarem refugee camp's residents have been displaced.
The army also raided homes in Tammun and Al-Far'a refugee camps, evicting residents and using some buildings as military positions, witnesses said.
Israeli forces interrogated dozens of Palestinians in the field and caused further destruction to local infrastructure.
At least 70 Palestinians have been killed in the occupied West Bank since the start of the year, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.
On Tuesday, Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa stated that Israel had displaced 5,000 families during its ongoing offensive in the northern West Bank.
The escalation follows a ceasefire and prisoner exchange deal in Gaza on Jan. 19, after more than 15 months of Israel's war, which has killed over 47,500 Palestinians and devastated the enclave.
Since the war began on Oct. 7, 2023, Israeli forces and settlers have killed at least 905 Palestinians across the occupied West Bank, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.
