The Tactics Institute for Security and Peace expresses the deepest concern over continued escalations by the Israeli military in the Jenin refugee camp, as well as the occupied West Bank, but also the grave humanitarian impact brought about by the ongoing situation in Gaza. Reports of forceful evacuations, infrastructure, and civilian casualty cases point towards the urgent need to have international involvement to prevent future violations of human rights and international law.
The situation in Jenin has deteriorated drastically, with military raids rendering the camp nearly uninhabitable. Since the start of Israel’s full-scale operation, 12 Palestinians have been killed and numerous others injured, according to local reports. The destruction of homes and water infrastructure further compounds the suffering of residents, amplifying instability across the region.
In Gaza, that momentary standstill of the active conflict under the ceasefire, the destruction stands. Over 47,000 Palestinians are confirmed dead, and more than 111,000 injured since hostilities started in October 2023. Aid is coming, but it has much to struggle for, as an Israeli threat of banned UNRWA will spoil the entire vital rehabilitation work at play.
Destruction of 70 percent of Gaza’s water supply infrastructure and mass displacements in Rafah reflect the humanitarian crisis. All of these, while violating international norms and treaties, especially the Fourth Geneva Convention designed to protect civilians in conflict zones, set the scene for the Jenin report about deliberate psychological and physical destabilization tactics supposedly designed to frighten people into leaving their homes and illegally annex their territories.
Measures taken by Israel, from the forced evacuation to destruction of civilian infrastructure, and maintaining continued military operation threaten the credibility of any potential peace deal while damaging international law-based frameworks. This is on grounds of direct breach of fundamental tenets in international law-also including, in this instance, collective punishment and targeting non-combatants while destabilizing the larger geo-political space, destroying trust, and creating self-reinforcing circles of violence. Thus, the international community must move in the direction of decisive action and accountability concerning violations.
The Tactics Institute calls on all involved parties and the international community to halt all actions targeting civilians and vital infrastructure in Jenin and Gaza. Ensure that assistance agencies have unfettered access to meet the urgent needs of internally displaced persons and affected communities. International actors, especially the United States, should clearly reject any annexation plans of Palestinian territories since annexation is against international law and destabilizes the region. Alleged war crimes should be documented and addressed through independent investigations to deter further violations.
The Tactics Institute calls on world leaders to take concrete steps toward protecting civilian lives and toward a sustainable and just resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Inaction now threatens to perpetuate cycles of violence and undermine prospects for long-term peace in the region.
