Red Crescent accuses Israeli army of obstructing medical, humanitarian teams in Jenin

The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) has said that the Israeli army is obstructing the work of its humanitarian and medical crews in Jenin, in the occupied West Bank, Anadolu has reported.

In a statement issued on Monday, the PRCS expressed “deep concern and disappointment at the Israeli occupation’s shrinking of the humanitarian space” in its ongoing military onslaught on the northern West Bank, in particular on Jenin Governorate.”

🚨The PRCS expresses its deep concern and disappointment with the Occupation’s dismantling of the humanitarian space during the ongoing incursion in the north of the West Bank, particularly in #Jenin. Over the course of the past 6 days, the occupation forces have shrunk the… pic.twitter.com/LaO6I05jgE

— PRCS (@PalestineRCS) September 2, 2024

It warned of the repercussions of the unabated aggression launched by the Israeli occupation forces six days ago against the city of Jenin, its refugee camp and connected villages. The society also underscored the massive destruction inflicted upon houses, properties, infrastructure and electricity and water networks, which rendered the entire area uninhabitable, in addition to preventing the arrival of basic supplies to those affected.

The PRCS further highlighted the Israeli ban on the entry of basic supplies to the affected areas and on access to medical services necessary for the survival of citizens. The occupation forces, it pointed out, have also prevented ambulance crews from transporting the injured, the sick, the elderly with chronic diseases and women in labour to hospitals to receive the necessary treatment.

The society reiterated its call on the international community to take immediate action and intervene to ensure that Israel adheres to its responsibilities under international humanitarian law, in particular the Fourth Geneva Convention, which obliges the occupying power to ensure that adequate food and medical supplies are provided in occupied territories. It also stressed that the protection of humanitarian space is the prime responsibility of the occupying power as stipulated by international humanitarian law.

Earlier on Monday, the Israeli army shot at press crews in the city of Jenin and pursued them with bulldozers while clearing streets inside the city, reported Anadolu.

The Israeli army began the largest military operation in the West Bank in 22 years last week, including the cities of Jenin, Tulkarm and Tubas, before withdrawing from the last two governorates, while continuing to storm the city of Jenin and its camp. On Monday afternoon, the Israeli army stormed the city of Tulkarm and its camp again.

The Palestinian Ministry of Health said on Monday that the death toll from the Israeli aggression on the West Bank has reached 29, with 121 wounded since last Wednesday. It pointed out that the death toll in the West Bank since last October has risen to 681, with around 5,700 wounded.

In parallel with its war on Gaza since October 7, the Israeli army has expanded its offensives and illegal Jewish settlers have escalated their attacks in the occupied West Bank, including occupied Jerusalem. More than 10,400 Palestinians have been arrested, according to official Palestinian institutions.

Israel’s war on Gaza has resulted in more than 135,000 Palestinians being killed or wounded, most of them children and women, with more than 10,000 missing, presumed dead, under the rubble of their homes and civilian infrastructure destroyed by the occupation state.

READ: Palestinian man dies in detention as Israel West Bank operation continues