The Palestinian International Organization for Peace and Human Rights condemns in the strongest terms the escalation of the Israeli occupation forces’ aggression on Nour Shams and Tulkarm camps, east of Tulkarm city in the West Bank, by invading the camps and launching airstrikes and continuous shooting for 15 days, which resulted in the killing of two women in two separate incidents, one of whom was nine months pregnant, and her husband was seriously injured.
This escalation comes within the framework of the ongoing Israeli military attack on Jenin, its camp and towns since January 21, 2025, Tulkarm since January 27, 2025, and Tubas since February 2, 2025, in addition to the comprehensive escalation in the West Bank since the beginning of the year. This aggression resulted in the martyrdom of 47 Palestinians, including 20 civilians, including 5 children and 2 women, in addition to the injury and arrest of hundreds of others, as well as the destruction of dozens of homes and infrastructure and the forced displacement of approximately 30,000 Palestinians from their homes.
Details of the first incident:
According to the information obtained by the organization’s researcher, at 04:15 am on Sunday, February 9, 2025, while the aggression on Nour Shams camp was expanding, citizen Yazan al-Sha’la got into his private vehicle with his wife, Sundus Jamal Muhammad Shalabi (23 years old), who was nine months pregnant, in an attempt to leave their home in the al-Manshiya neighborhood towards the Jabal al-Nasr area. Upon their arrival, their vehicle was subjected to heavy gunfire from the occupation forces that were lying in wait in the area, which resulted in their injuries in the upper part of the body.
Despite the seriousness of their injuries, the occupation forces prevented ambulances and paramedics from arriving, delaying their transfer for an hour. After they arrived at Thabet Thabet Hospital in Tulkarm, it was announced that Sundus and her fetus had died due to the delay in providing medical care, while her husband’s injury was described as critical.
Citizen Nada Faisal Ahmed Qazli, an eyewitness, said that they woke up to the sounds of explosions and gunfire, and when the gunfire stopped, they heard a cry for help. When her father went out to offer assistance, they followed him to find Sondos and her husband Yazan injured. She added that she knew Sondos well, and that she was preparing to welcome her first child with her husband, and they had prepared a name and clothes for him, but the occupation killed the mother and her child before he saw the light.
Details of the second incident:
At approximately 12:30 pm on the same day, the occupation forces fired “Energa” shells at a house in Jabal al-Nasr, which led to the martyrdom of citizen Rahaf Fouad Abdullah al-Ashqar (22 years old) after she was hit by shrapnel in the head, and her father was moderately injured, while they were in their house next to the targeted house.
It is noteworthy that the ongoing Israeli aggression on Tulkarm since January 27, 2025 has caused a mass displacement of families, in addition to the demolition and destruction of homes and civilian facilities, and the arrest of dozens, amid a complete power outage in the camps.
Warning and Call for International Action: The Palestinian International Organization for Peace and Human Rights
warns of the continued Israeli escalation throughout the West Bank, including killings and excessive use of force, in parallel with settlement expansion and increasing violence by settlers with the support of the occupation forces.
The organization renews its call on the international community to take immediate action to stop these crimes, protect Palestinian civilians, and work to implement the decisions of the International Court of Justice, which confirmed the illegality of the occupation and its practices. It calls for international measures to end the illegal occupation and stop double standards in the application of international law, in order to achieve justice and guarantee the legitimate rights of the Palestinians.
