The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) condemns in the strongest terms the Israeli Occupation Forces’ (IOF) continued escalation of their aggression on Nur Shams and Tulkarm refugee camps, eastern Tulkarm City, northern West Bank. For 15 days, IOF continue their widescale invasion in the two camps, conducting airstrikes and shootings that have recently claimed the lives of 2 women, including a 9-month pregnant woman, in 2 separate incidents as well as critically injuring her husband.

This recent escalation coincides with IOF’s widescale military assault on Jenin, its refugee camp and villages that have started on 27 January 2025 and on Tubas since 02 February 2025 amid surging aggression across the West Bank since the beginning of the year. This military aggression has so far resulted in the killing of 47 Palestinians, including 20 civilians, among them 5 children and 2 women, in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.  Moreover, hundreds have been injured and arrested while tens of houses and infrastructure have been destroyed amid the forced displacement of more than 30,000 Palestinians from their homes.

According to field information collected by PCHR’s researchers on the first incident, at around 04:15 on Sunday, 09 February 2025, as IOF have expanded their military assault on Nur Shams refugee camp, eastern Tulkarm, Yazan al-Sho’alah and his 9-month- pregnant wife, Sondos Jamal Mohammed Shalabi (23), left their house in al-Manshiyah neighborhood driving their car on the road leading to al-Naser Mount in the outskirts of the refugee camp.  When their car arrived at al-Naser Mount, IOF ambushing in the area targeted them with a barrage of bullets. As a result, Sondos and her husband, Yazan, were wounded in the upper body (chest and abdomen.) Due to IOF’s restriction and obstruction of the movement of ambulances and medics, the evacuation of the wounded couple was delayed for around an hour.  Afterwards, they were evacuated to Thabet Thabet Hospital, in Tulkarm, where Sondos and her fetus were officially announced dead.  The medical teams were unable to save them as their evacuation had been delayed by IOF’s restrictions and search at checkpoints, noting that the mother was in her last days of pregnancy before being injured. Meanwhile, the husband was critically injured.

Nada Faisal Ahmed Qezli talked on the phone with PCHR’s field researcher stating the following:

“We woke up to the sound of explosions occurring in the Mount followed by heavy gunfire in front of our house, but we could not know why. Few minutes later, we heard pleas for help near the house and at the time the shooting had stopped, with calm prevailing in the vicinity of the house and the street. Despite the fear we felt, my father decided to go out of the house to provide aid for that person, and we followed him.  I saw a 9-month pregnant woman whom I knew very well as she had been married for a year to Yazan al-Sho’alah, one of the camp’s residents.  She was shot and showed no vital signs, but her husband was pleading for help as he was wounded in the upper body. My father called the Palestinian ambulance services that took a while to arrive and evacuate Sondos Jamal al-Shalabi (22), whom I knew was in her last days of pregnancy.  As I had been in touch with them before the incident, I knew they wanted to evacuate their home in al-Manshiyah neighborhood fearing that the siege would intensify and prevent him from taking his wife for delivery in the city’s hospitals.  Yazan and his wife had already prepared clothes for their firstborn and even picked a name for him, but Israel decided to kill the mother and her unborn baby.”

According to PCHR’s field information on the second incident, at around 12:30 on the same day, IOF fired Energa grenades at a house in al-Naser Mount, instantly killing Rahaf Fo’ad ‘Abdullah al-Ashqar (22) after being hit with shrapnel in the head and moderately injuring her father. Rahaf and her father were in their home that was adjacent to the targeted house.

Since 27 January 2025, IOF have launched a widescale ground invasion into Tulkarm and its two refugee camps, Nur Shams and Tulkarm, east of the city amid heavy hovering of Israeli warplanes.  The areas invaded by IOF, particularly Tulkarm refugee camp, have witnessed massive waves of displacement while the Israeli bulldozers are demolishing tens of houses and civilian facilities.  Moreover, many houses have been burnt, and tens of the camp’s young men have been arrested amid complete power outage in the two camps.

 PCHR again warns of IOF’s continued escalating aggression across the West Bank, including their ongoing killings and excessive use of force alongside an aggressive settlement activity and unabated settler violence that is backed and protected by IOF.  PCHR reiterates its call on the international community to act immediately to stop Israel’s crimes, protect the Palestinian civilians and break the silence, which only encourages Israel to commit more crimes against the Palestinian people.

PCHR recalls the advisory opinion by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in August 2024, which has concluded the illegality of Israel’s continued presence and practices in the oPt. Therefore, the ongoing unlawful occupation in the oPt and persistent denial of Palestinians’ inalienable rights remain the main cause of the drastic escalation and the deteriorating situation. Based on this, PCHR calls on the international community to act upon the ICJ’s recommendations and take immediate action to end the illegal occupation and stop double standards in the application of international law.