Israeli soldiers killed in shooting attack as West Bank operation continues

On Monday, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas’s spokesman alleged that the Israeli operation was part of a wider effort aimed at “displacing citizens and ethnic cleansing”.

Speaking to reporters in Geneva on Tuesday, Juliette Touma of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (Unrwa) warned of the deteriorating situation at Jenin refugee camp.

Hundreds of Israeli security forces backed by helicopters, drones and armoured bulldozers have been carrying out raids in the camp, long seen as a stronghold of armed groups.

“Large parts of the camp were completely destroyed in a series of detonations by the Israeli forces. It is estimated that 100 houses were destroyed or heavily damaged,” Ms Touma said.

“This detonation that happened on Sunday was when children were supposed to go back to school,” she added.

The IDF said on Sunday that it had “dismantled” 23 structures where explosives laboratories, weapons, observation posts and other infrastructure belonging to armed groups were located.

Ms Touma also said that Unrwa, which has been unable to provide services in the camp since early December, had received no prior warning of the explosions from Israeli authorities.

On Thursday, two laws passed by Israel’s parliament last year which bans Unrwa activity on Israeli soil and forbids contact between Israeli officials and Unrwa employees came into force. Israeli officials accuse Unrwa of being complicit with Hamas – an allegation the agency denies.

Ms Touma said the Israeli government had “not communicated to Unrwa how they intend to implement” the laws, and that Unrwa teams were currently “staying and delivering”.