Israeli incursions in Tulkarm | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Part of the Israeli incursions in the West Bank during the Israel–Hamas war and the Israeli–Palestinian conflict | |||||
The Israeli Army during a siege on Martyr Dr. Thabet Thabet Governmental Hospital in the Tulkarm city center, January 17, 2024 | |||||
| |||||
Belligerents | |||||
Tulkarm Brigade | Israel | ||||
Casualties and losses | |||||
Dozens killed or injured | Dozens killed or injured | ||||
|
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 Minister Bezalel 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]