Families fleeing as bombs rained down upon Jenin as the Israeli continue their brutal attack on Palestinians Photo Twitter/@ummahtoday
Jenin – At least 11 Palestinians have been killed after Israel launched a major attack on Jenin, causing immense suffering and devastation. this latest assault by the Israeli occupation is another brutal chapter in that ongoing struggle.
More than 50 people were injured in the attacks which included airstrikes. The city has a history of resistance since 1948 and has been a stronghold against the Israeli occupation. Israel seeks to suppress any form of resistance and views Jenin as a threat due to its significant contribution to the resistance movement, particularly from the Jenin camp, explained Abeer Zayyad, Archaeologist and historical expert.
The people of Jenin, many of whom are refugees displaced from their homes in 1948, are experiencing a traumatic déjà vu. Between 2000 to 2003, the Battle of Jenin took place which was a tragic event. However, what is happening now is worse, said Zayyad. The suffering and loss they endured in the past are hauntingly repeated today. Families are torn apart, and their homes are destroyed once again.
“We remember what happened in 2000 in Jenin and how they killed the people. How they destroyed their houses but this time it’s maybe worse than what happened. They kicked the people out of the camp. Some people were able to get out of the camp. The majority of the people are still inside the camp. It’s not the first time that they are losing their homes, losing their places. You must not forget that these are refugees. They had their houses taken from them in 1948. Their families were killed in front of them in 1948 and now they are suffering the same thing again.”
According to Zayyad, no one is safe from the Israeli government. Citizens who were escaping with their children, putting their hands up and even waving white flags, were not spared from the brutality of the Israeli Defence Force. They were all attacked as they tried to escape to a safe place.
Jenin residents denied humanitarian aid and access to medical help
To add to the tragedy and in their pursuit to quash resistance, the Israeli authorities have denied any form of assistance to the people of Jenin and have denied them access to medical help. The Palestinian Red Crescent Society has pleaded with Israeli authorities to allow safe passage for the evacuation of the injured, but their pleas are met with silence and rejection.
“They do not allow any kind of help, nothing. They have destroyed the street, even the ambulance can’t arrive at the injured people. There is a video of three civilians who were killed on top of each other when they tried to help [someone]. They were just killed between the cars, and they stayed there bleeding till they passed away. This is what is happening. The situation is very hard and it’s a very tough one for each of us as a Palestinian. It just makes us remember exactly what happened to us in 1948.”
The mayor of Jenin, Nidal al-Obaidi, rightly labels the Israeli attack as “a real massacre” with the Israeli government seeking “to wipe out all aspects of life inside the city and the camp”. Innocent people are targeted, and their lives shattered. The continuous suffering of the Palestinian people echoes the memories of the Nakba in 194. Furthermore, al-Obaidi confirmed that many of the camp’s infrastructure have been destroyed. Water and sewage pipes have been destroyed and any attempt to fix them is being blocked by Israeli snipers who are continuously watching the pipes.
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Double standards and silence from the international community
The Israeli government claims to be defending itself against “terrorists” in Jenin. This stance angered Zayyad who questioned why Palestinians are considered “terrorists” when they are defending their homeland and live but the Ukrainians, who are doing the same, are considered heroes. The international community’s response to the atrocities committed by Israel is marked by silence and double standards. War crimes and injustices against the Palestinian people go unnoticed and unaddressed. While other conflicts are acknowledged and supported, Palestinians are left to bear the brunt of the occupation without receiving the justice they deserve.
“Even if we have resistance this is an occupation. If they are not happy with this resistance, they can leave our country. We are not terrorists. The terrorists are the ones who are making the occupation, killing the civilians. It is not the ones who are trying to protect their country. Why does the world not consider the Ukrainians terrorists when they are fighting against the Russians? Why is it okay to kill the Russians but it’s not okay to take any action against the Israeli occupation? If you count the number of Palestinians who were killed and compare it with the number of Israeli deaths, there is no comparison between the two. We are the ones who are killed all the time. We are the ones who are losing our homes, our land. The problem is the occupation. It’s not the resistant problem.”
The lack of justice and the double standards applied to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict contributes to the sense of being forgotten and abandoned by the world.
The major attack on Jenin is a stark reminder of the continuous tragedy that Palestinians endure under the Israeli occupation. Innocent lives are lost, homes are destroyed, and hopelessness pervades the Palestinian population. The international community’s inadequate response and double standards only perpetuate the suffering of the Palestinian people. It is time for the world to recognize the Palestinian struggle for what it is—an ongoing fight for justice and freedom. The people of Jenin deserve the world’s attention and support in their quest for a better future.
Abeer Zayyad engaged in a poignant conversation with Julie Alli, shedding light on the harrowing events unfolding in Jenin, encompassing destruction, mounting casualties, and the Israeli government’s obstructive tactics to hinder aid for the injured. Tune in to their impactful dialogue here:
