Israeli Forces Accused of Firing Tear Gas Inside Hospital in West Bank City of Jenin
Israeli forces have been accused of firing tear gas inside a hospital in the West Bank city of Jenin, 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 around the hospital but later acknowledged friction. IDF spokesman Richard Hecht declined to provide further details. The two-day raid on Jenin has resulted in the deaths of 12 Palestinians, including three children, and at least 120 Palestinians have been injured, with 20 in critical condition, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. This is the largest raid in the West Bank since 2002.
The IDF claims that the Palestinians killed in the operation were militants. Hecht stated, “No non-combatants were killed during the counterterrorism activity in the Jenin Camp.” He emphasized that the IDF is not fighting against the Palestinian people but only against terrorist operatives. Hecht also mentioned that efforts were made to avoid civilian casualties during the operation.
As a result of the Israeli operation, as many as 3,000 refugees have been evacuated from Jenin, 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, ending the largest military operation conducted in the occupied West Bank in nearly 20 years.
Doctors Without Borders, one of the humanitarian organizations providing support and medical aid to Palestinians in Jenin, stated that the damage caused by the raid is making it difficult to reach people in need. The organization reported that military bulldozers have destroyed roads leading to the refugee camp, impeding ambulances from reaching patients.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited an outpost near the Jenin refugee camp on Tuesday after a car rammed into a bus stop in Tel Aviv, injuring eight people. Netanyahu defended the raid, claiming that Israeli forces destroyed important strongholds used by “terrorists.” He stated, “We will continue as long as necessary to stamp out terrorism.”
The United Nations has expressed concern about the situation in Jenin. Most of the refugee camp does not have access to drinking water due to the damage caused by the raid, and electricity is also unavailable in most parts of the camp. Health facilities have sustained damage, and urgent supplies are needed.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs spokesperson Vanessa Huguenin said that the organization is alarmed at the scale of the air and ground operations taking place in Jenin. The UN and its humanitarian partners are mobilizing to assist and are calling for access to the injured and affected people within the Jenin refugee camp.
This story is ongoing, and further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
Jordana Miller, Nasser Atta, and Emma Ogao contributed to this report.
Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to reflect additional reporting.
What actions should the international community take to hold Israel accountable for the accusations of firing tear gas inside a hospital in Jenin?
Oss. Many houses have been destroyed, leaving families displaced and without shelter. The Israeli forces have accused the residents of Jenin of harboring terrorists and hiding weapons. The operation was launched in response to recent attacks against Israeli civilians, including a stabbing spree in a West Bank settlement that left three Israelis dead.
The accusations of firing tear gas inside a hospital have caused outrage among the international community. Human rights organizations and medical professionals have condemned this act as a violation of international law and a disregard for the sanctity of medical facilities. The use of tear gas inside a hospital not only poses a direct threat to the health and safety of patients and medical staff, but also compromises the hospital’s ability to provide urgent medical care to those in need.
Doctors Without Borders has called for an independent investigation into the incident, urging the international community to hold Israel accountable for its actions. This is not the first time Israeli forces have been accused of targeting medical facilities. In 2014, during the Gaza conflict, several hospitals were reportedly hit by Israeli airstrikes.
The ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine continues to escalate, with no end in sight. The recent raid on Jenin and the accusations of firing tear gas inside a hospital only add fuel to the fire. As negotiations and peace talks falter, the lives of innocent civilians continue to be caught in the crossfire. The international community must step up and intervene to ensure the protection of civilians, the adherence to international law, and the pursuit of a peaceful resolution to this long-standing conflict.
This alleged act of firing tear gas inside a hospital during a West Bank raid is deeply disturbing and must be thoroughly investigated. Such actions cannot be justified under any circumstances, as they risk innocent lives and undermine the sanctity of medical facilities.