Israeli Forces Accused of Firing Tear Gas Inside Hospital in West Bank City of Jenin
JENIN, West Bank – Israeli forces have been accused of firing tear gas inside a hospital in the West Bank city of Jenin on Tuesday, causing 125 people to be treated during a two-day raid. Doctors Without Borders reported that the tear gas made the emergency room “unusable,” and the entire hospital was “completely filled with smoke” after the attack.
Initially, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) denied any fighting had taken place around the hospital. However, IDF spokesman Richard Hecht later acknowledged friction in the area but declined to provide further details, according to ABC News.
The two-day raid on the city of Jenin has resulted in the deaths of 12 Palestinians, including three children, while at least 120 Palestinians have been injured, with 20 in critical condition, as confirmed by the Palestinian Health Ministry on Tuesday. This is the largest raid in the West Bank since 2002.
The IDF claims that those killed during the operation were militants. “No non-combatants were killed during the counterterrorism activity in the Jenin Camp,” said Hecht. “The IDF is not fighting against the Palestinian people – only against terrorist operatives. We make great efforts to avoid civilian casualties during operational activity and allow civilian life to continue.”
As many as 3,000 refugees have been evacuated from Jenin since the Israeli operation began on Monday at 1:00 am local time, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent. The estimated population of the Jenin camp is about 18,000.
The Israeli military withdrew its forces from Jenin just after midnight on Wednesday, officially ending the largest military operation conducted by Israel in the occupied West Bank in nearly 20 years.
Israeli officials have defended the incursion as a counter-terrorism operation aimed at dismantling terrorist infrastructure in the area. “We will continue as long as necessary to stamp out terrorism,” stated Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu when visiting an outpost near the Jenin refugee camp on Tuesday.
Multiple humanitarian organizations, including Doctors Without Borders, have been providing support and medical aid to Palestinians affected by the raid in Jenin. However, the damage caused is hindering their efforts. “Military bulldozers have destroyed roads leading to the refugee camp, which is impeding ambulances from reaching patients,” the organization stated.
The United Nations has raised concerns about the scale of the air and ground operations in Jenin. The camp is facing numerous challenges, including limited access to drinking water and electricity, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
As the situation continues, the UN OCHA and other humanitarian partners are mobilizing to assist and have called for access to the injured and affected people within the Jenin refugee camp.
Jordana Miller, Nasser Atta, and Emma Ogao contributed to this report.
Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to reflect additional reporting.