Mon Feb 03 17:02:41 UTC 2025: ## PA Accuses Israel of Ethnic Cleansing Amidst Deadly West Bank Offensive

**RAMALLAH, WEST BANK –** The Palestinian Authority (PA) has accused Israel of waging an “all-out war” aimed at ethnic cleansing in the occupied West Bank, following a surge in Israeli military operations. The condemnation comes as the Palestinian Ministry of Health reports at least 70 Palestinians, including 10 children, have been killed by Israeli forces since the start of the year.

The majority of casualties – 38 – were recorded in Jenin, with significant numbers also reported in Tubas, Nablus, Tulkarem, Hebron, Bethlehem, and East Jerusalem. The Israeli military operation, dubbed “Iron Wall,” launched last month, focuses on targeting Palestinian armed groups, primarily in the Jenin area. This operation has resulted in the destruction of numerous buildings, including 23 in the Jenin refugee camp alone, and the displacement of thousands of Palestinians, with 75% of the Tulkarem refugee camp population displaced, according to local officials.

PA spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh denounced Israel’s actions as an attempt to displace Palestinians and carry out ethnic cleansing, citing widespread destruction and the displacement of thousands. He emphasized that the Palestinian people would not accept resettlement plans or an “alternative homeland.”

International organizations are also voicing alarm. Doctors Without Borders (MSF) condemned the escalating violence and highlighted the humanitarian crisis unfolding, particularly the blockade of Jenin leading to critical supply shortages. MSF has been providing emergency aid, including fuel, water, hygiene kits, and food.

The Israeli offensive follows a ceasefire in Gaza in January, which concluded a months-long conflict that resulted in the deaths of nearly 62,000 Palestinians, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. The escalating violence in the West Bank raises concerns of a wider conflict, with Israel showing no signs of de-escalating its operations. The ongoing situation highlights the deeply volatile conditions in the occupied territories and the continued human cost of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

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