Jenin: Israel has forcibly displaced more than 20,000 Palestinians from the Jenin refugee camp in the northern West Bank, a Palestinian official said on Sunday. The displaced individuals have been forced to leave behind their homes, documents, and personal belongings, as reported by Jenin Deputy Governor Mansour al-Saadi to the Voice of Palestine radio.

According to Anadolu Agency, the displaced residents are expected to seek shelter in other cities across the West Bank due to the destruction caused by the Israeli assault, which makes their return impossible. The Israeli attacks are perceived as an attempt to erase the refugee issue entirely, as stated by Saadi.

The Palestinian official describes the offensive in Jenin city and its refugee camp as a form of collective punishment targeting nearly 400,000 residents. The ongoing assault has caused significant economic losses and disrupted the education system in the region.

Saadi has called upon international human rights and legal organizations to enter the camp and document the extent of the destruction, emphasizing the likelihood that bodies of deceased and injured individuals remain buried under the rubble.

The escalation by Israeli forces follows a broader military offensive that began on Jan. 21 in Jenin and its refugee camp, and extended to surrounding towns, resulting in at least 25 fatalities, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. The offensive expanded into Tulkarem on Jan. 27, causing additional casualties, followed by an assault on Feb. 2 in the town of Tammun and the Far'a refugee camp in Tubas city.

This escalation follows a ceasefire and prisoner exchange deal in Gaza on Jan. 19, after over 15 months of bombardment by Israel, which resulted in nearly 48,200 Palestinian deaths and significant devastation to the enclave. Since the conflict began on Oct. 7, 2023, Israeli forces and settlers have killed at least 906 Palestinians across the occupied West Bank, as per the Health Ministry.