Mustafa Barghouti: “Israel” is conducting dangerous ethnic cleansing in Jenin

JENIN – The Zionist occupation forces continued their aggression on the city of Jenin and its refugee camp for the fifth consecutive day, which has resulted so far in the martyrdom of 14 Palestinians and the injury of others, amidst massive destruction to infrastructure, WAFA news agency reported on Saturday.

The occupation forces launched a large-scale detention campaign that targeted several local residents from different neighbourhoods and homes in the Jenin refugee camp, Wafa said, adding that the occupation army destroyed and set fire to residents’ homes in the southwestern area of ​​the camp.

The Health Directorate issued a circular to patients who obtain medicines from its headquarters in Jenin, to go to the directorate’s centres in the towns of the governorate due to the continued storming of the city as the occupation forces continue sending more troops to the area.

The United Nations expressed “deep concern” over the occupation’s use of “unlawful lethal force” this week in its raids on Jenin, in the occupied West Bank.

“The deadly Israeli operations in recent days raise serious concerns about unnecessary or disproportionate use of force, including methods and means developed for warfighting, in violation of international human rights law, norms, and standards applicable to law enforcement operations,” UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Thameen al-Kheetan told a media briefing in Geneva.

“This includes multiple airstrikes and apparently random shooting at unarmed residents attempting to flee or find safety.”

Mustafa Barghouti, the leader of the Palestinian National Initiative party, said in a statement that the occupation is carrying out “dangerous ethnic cleansing in Jenin, forcing civilians and families to leave their homes on foot under violent repression and humiliating searches.”

“The ongoing events confirm the remarks by Israeli army chief Herzi Halevi that the goals and repressive practices are identical in Gaza and the West Bank, which are subjected to collective punishment, checkpoints, arrests, and abuse,” he added.

Barghouti emphasised the need for Palestinian national unity to confront “Israeli ethnic cleansing and genocide.”

In Nablus, the occupation forces obstructed the movement of citizens and placed more checkpoints at the entrances to villages and towns, preventing thousands of local residents from reaching their homes and destinations.

It is noteworthy that the occupation forces set up 10 permanent military checkpoints around the city of Nablus alone, installed 36 iron gates at its entrances and the surrounding villages, and closed more than 47 sites with earth mounds.