By V.E.K.Madhushani, Jadetimes News
Residents Endure Isolation and Fear Amid Ongoing Military Operations
The Jenin refugee camp, a focal point of recent military operations, remains cut off and sealed by Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), leaving residents isolated and in fear. Scraps of information trickle through on the Israeli phone network, painting a grim picture of life inside the camp.
“I don’t dare go on the roof, in case I’m shot,” says one resident, who prefers to remain anonymous. He describes a scene of deserted streets, with most residents staying indoors. "It’s mostly old people and children here. The young people left before the army arrived it’s bad luck for those who can’t get out," he adds.
Jenin, once bustling, now faces a news blackout. The Palestinian phone network was down for much of the day, cut off by the ongoing military operation, according to the telecoms company. Despite the uncertainty, the resident notes that his family still has access to water and electricity, and a small shop nearby remains open, selling essentials amid the persistent buzz of military drones overhead.
As we speak, sporadic gunfire echoes over the rooftops from the camp's direction. “Yes, I heard them too,” he confirms, noting that the sound of drones has intensified. An armored bulldozer approaches one of the camp's main entrances, moving through the deserted, sun baked roads.
The previous night, the camp experienced explosions and gunfire, disrupting any semblance of normalcy. However, since then, the resident says the camp has been "abnormally quiet," with no visible house to house searches or fighters in his immediate vicinity. The camp, a known base for armed Palestinian fighters and unarmed civilians alike, has seen fierce clashes in recent months as Israeli forces conduct repeated raids.
Army vehicles now encircle two of Jenin’s main hospitals, controlling access with strict security measures. Ambulances approaching the area are stopped and instructed in Arabic by loudspeakers on army vehicles. Paramedics are made to open the ambulance doors, revealing their contents, and even patients must present themselves to the soldiers.
One of Jenin’s main commercial districts stands deserted. Streets once filled with life are now empty, with fruit carts abandoned and the scent of rotting produce lingering in the air. Only one small grocery store opens intermittently, providing a vital lifeline for those able to reach it.
Thaeer Shana’at, a local resident, stocks up on supplies to deliver to families in the eastern neighborhood, where access is blocked by Israeli forces. “The whole eastern area about 20,000 people—is sealed off,” he explains. “Only ambulances can deliver food. If we try, we get fired at. There are many areas where people have no access to food or water.”
Thaeer’s wife and baby remain trapped inside the camp. “They are scared to open the door,” he says, with a sniper positioned directly outside their home. Munir Garwan, another resident and former municipality worker, waits to purchase food. A former member of Fatah and an ex prisoner of the Israeli military, Munir reflects on the situation: “The occupation claims it is trying to stop terrorism. But when the young men get killed, new ones take their place. They are getting nowhere like that.”
“We are not fighting to make someone victorious over the other,” Munir adds. “We are fighting for our rights.”
As night falls, loud explosions and gunfire are heard once more from the camp. With communication networks gradually returning, details of the ongoing incursion and the identities of those injured or killed begin to surface. However, for the residents of Jenin, the resumption of news brings little comfort, as the reality of their situation remains dire.
