Israel besieges Jenin, cutting off food and water supplies

The ongoing siege in Jenin has resulted in severe humanitarian crises, with the majority of the population lacking access to essential resources such as food, water, and electricity. Medical charity Doctors Without Borders has reported that Israeli forces are obstructing access to health facilities, further exacerbating the dire situation for civilians, particularly children who are living in fear amid the violence. Eyewitness accounts describe the destruction of infrastructure, including the demolition of shops and bulldozing of streets, as Israeli military reinforcements have intensified their operations in the area. The Jenin refugee camp, home to approximately 20,000 people, has been particularly hard hit, with reports indicating that 80% of its residents are without water. The local municipality has expressed grave concerns over the humanitarian impact of the siege, which has been characterized as a potential war crime due to the deliberate targeting of civilians and obstruction of aid. The situation has drawn comparisons to past military actions, with local officials recalling the devastation of the camp in 2002. As the conflict escalates, the death toll continues to rise, with at least 24 Palestinians reported killed during the five-day assault. The broader context includes a significant increase in violence across the occupied West Bank, where over 675 Palestinians have been killed since early October, and more than 10,300 have been arrested. This military campaign is occurring alongside a devastating bombardment in Gaza, which has resulted in over 40,000 Palestinian deaths. Human rights advocates have condemned the actions of Israeli forces, emphasizing the obligation to allow humanitarian access to civilians. The ongoing military operations are seen as a collective punishment of the population rather than targeted actions against militants, raising serious legal and ethical questions about the conduct of the Israeli military in the region.