2024 Tulkarm Camp airstrike
| 2024 Tulkarm camp airstrike | |
|---|---|
| Part of the 2024 Israeli military operation in the West Bank | |
  Tulkarm camp Location in the West Bank | |
| Location | Tulkarm, West Bank, Palestine |
| Date | 3 October 2024 |
| Target | Cafe in Tulkarm camp |
Attack type | Airstrike |
| Deaths | 20+ Palestinians |
| Perpetrator |  Israel Defense Forces and Shin Bet |
On 3 October 2024, the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) conducted an airstrike on the Tulkarm Camp – a Palestinian refugee camp – in the West Bank. At least 20 people were killed.[1] Nour Odeh called it "the largest and deadliest air strike that we’ve seen in the occupied West Bank for over 20 years".[2] The airstrike was a joint operation between the IDF and Shin Bet against Hamas.[3] It was the first Israeli strike in the area since 2002 during Operation Defensive Shield.[1]
Bombing
The bombing was aimed at a busy coffee shop in the al-Hamam neighbourhood in Tulkarm Camp, and at least one missile hit a cafe in the camp.[4] Among those killed in the airstrike were Zahi Yaser Abd al-Razeq Oufi and Ayyth Radwan, which the IDF claimed were the heads of the local Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad branches, respectively.[1]
Laith Jaar, an Al Jazeera journalist who was covering the bombing was assaulted by a Palestinian Authority security officer, who threatened to shoot him. Jaar was subsequently arrested and detained by the PA security forces.[5][6]
Reactions
A spokesman for President of the State of Palestine Mahmoud Abbas called the attack a "heinous crime" against civilians.[2] The Palestinian news agency WAFA said the attacks "will not bring security and stability to anyone, but will drag the region into more violence".[7] Hamas condemned the strike but stopped short of confirming Oufi's death.[8]
See also
- Israeli incursions in Tulkarm
- Israeli incursions in the West Bank during the Israel–Hamas war
- Refugee camp airstrikes in the Israel–Hamas war
References
- ^ a b c "IDF jets conduct strike in Tulkarm, eliminate Hamas commander responsible for West Bank car bombing". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 2024-10-03. Retrieved 2024-10-03.
- ^ a b Staff, Al Jazeera. "Israeli air attack on West Bank's Tulkarem camp kills at least 18: Ministry". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-10-03.
- ^ Staff, A. O. L. (2024-10-03). "Israeli air strike kills 18 people in occupied West Bank". www.aol.com. Retrieved 2024-10-04.
- ^ "At least 18 killed in massive Israeli strike on Tulkarm in occupied West Bank". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 2024-10-04.
- ^ "Al Jazeera condemns the assault on its journalist Laith Jaar by Palestinian Security". Al Jazeera Media Network. Retrieved 2024-10-04.
- ^ "Journalist groups condemn Palestinian Authority's attack on Al Jazeera journalist". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 2024-10-04.
- ^ "Israel says it killed Hamas commander in West Bank strike that left 18 dead". Reuters.
- ^ Vinall, Frances (3 October 2024). "Israeli airstrike in West Bank kills 18, Palestinian officials say". The Washington Post.
