Israeli occupation forces continue their military assault on the city of Tulkarm and its two refugee camps—Tulkarm Camp and Nour Shams—for the 81st and 68th consecutive days, respectively. The ongoing aggression has been marked by intense field escalation, large-scale military reinforcements, raids, and arrests.
Widespread Raids and Arrests
According to media sources, Israeli forces deployed heavy reinforcements—comprising military vehicles, bulldozers, and infantry units—into the city, both camps, and surrounding areas. These deployments were accompanied by extensive house raids and search operations in several neighborhoods, along with the heavy use of stun grenades.
Israeli occupation vehicles roamed several parts of the city, including Martyr Thabet Thabet Government Hospital Street, the central vegetable market, the eastern neighborhood, Nablus Street, and Courthouse Street. In several areas, traffic was obstructed, with vehicles barred from passing. Zionist forces also arrested a young man, Islam Soudani, after raiding his home in the eastern neighborhood.
Just before midnight, infantry units stormed the Aktaba suburb near Nur Shams Camp and spread out across the residential housing area, conducting searches between homes. Stun grenades were thrown at passing vehicles near the Aktaba roundabout. During the operation, a young man, Wahbi Al-Jarmi, was forcibly taken from his car and detained.
The home of citizen Maisara Abu Zreifah in the housing neighborhood was also raided and ransacked. Surveillance cameras were smashed in several homes in the same area.
Forced Evictions and Destruction in Nur Shams
In a related development, occupation forces stormed multiple homes on the western outskirts of Nur Shams Camp, forcibly evicting the families of Al-Omour, Abu Sarris, and Al-Mallah. The camp has been witnessing daily forced displacement of residents, particularly in the Jabal Al-Salihin and Jabal Al-Nasr neighborhoods.
Throughout last night and early this morning, Zionist troops spread extensively throughout Tulkarm Camp, wreaking havoc in homes, including those vacated by forcibly displaced residents. Live ammunition and stun grenades were fired indiscriminately. The offensive focused on the Al-Matar neighborhood, where a young man, Fares Hdaideh, was arrested from his home.
Meanwhile, Nablus Street—which connects the two camps—has seen a heavy deployment of Israeli forces. The occupation has tightened restrictions on movement, worsening the suffering of residents. Dirt mounds have been placed to block both ends of the road, while checkpoints have been installed along its length, halting vehicle traffic.
Israeli occupation forces continue to seize residential buildings and homes on Nablus Street and in the adjacent northern neighborhood, forcibly evicting residents and turning the areas into military zones with stationed bulldozers and armored vehicles.
Human and Material Toll
The ongoing Israeli aggression has resulted in the killing of 13 Palestinians, including a child and two women—one of whom was eight months pregnant. Dozens of others have been wounded or detained.
Over 4,000 families from Tulkarm and Nur Shams Camps have been forcibly displaced, in addition to hundreds of residents from the city’s northern neighborhood, following the seizure of their homes—some of which were converted into military outposts.
The assault has caused widespread destruction of infrastructure, homes, shops, and vehicles. Reports indicate that 396 homes have been completely destroyed and 2,573 partially damaged in the two camps. Many properties were also subjected to arson, vandalism, looting, and theft. Access to the camps has been cut off, with entrances and alleyways blocked by dirt barricades.
Thousands of Israeli Settlers Storm Al-Aqsa, Bab Al-Rahma Cemetery Under Heavy Security
Thousands of Israeli settlers stormed the courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque and Bab Al-Rahma Cemetery on Thursday, marking the fifth day of the Jewish Passover holiday.
Israeli media published footage showing the establishment of new settler settlements in the Dura mountains, south of Hebron in the southern occupied West Bank. pic.twitter.com/1UDFz4zIS9
— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) April 17, 2025
According to a statement by the Jerusalem Governorate, settlers entered Al-Aqsa in successive groups through the Moroccan Gate and performed Talmudic rituals in its courtyards.
The governorate also reported that far-right Knesset member Tzvi Sukkot, from the Religious Zionism party, performed what is known as the “epic prostration” ritual inside the mosque compound—an act considered highly provocative by Palestinians.
Israeli Knesset member Zvi Sukkot defiled Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque under the cover of Israeli occupation forces. pic.twitter.com/ELBuWoBGS4
— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) April 17, 2025
In parallel, thousands of settlers gathered at the Buraq Wall Plaza (Western Wall), west of Al-Aqsa Mosque, to perform the so-called “Priestly Blessing” prayer as part of the ongoing Passover celebrations.
Israeli occupation police enforced a heavy security presence, turning the mosque and its surrounding area into a military zone. Access was denied to many Palestinian worshippers, while identity cards were confiscated at outer gates.
Source: Al-Manar Website
