In the early morning of 28 August, Israeli forces launched a large-scale military incursion in the cities of Tulkarm, Jenin, and Tubas in Palestine. This was the most intense incursion since 2002. A total of 39 Palestinians were killed according to the Ministry of Health.
In Jenin, these nine days saw extreme destruction. A large part of the road infrastructure was destroyed, as well as electricity and water connections, particularly in the refugee camp and eastern neighbourhood of the city. People were trapped, with restricted access to healthcare as military vehicles were placed in front of hospitals and ambulances and health workers were repeatedly searched, and even attacked. Residents feared being shot when leaving their homes.
These increasingly frequent and unpredictable incursions in the West Bank are taking a heavy toll on the physical and mental health of Palestinians. People live with the constant fear of the next incursion.
MSF activities were heavily impacted by the large-scale incursion in Jenin. Our usual training and mental health activities were put on hold. During the incursion, a donation of medication, diapers and baby milk was made to the volunteers delivering basic items to the people trapped in the camp. Since the Israeli Forces left on 6 September, MSF teams donated water bottles and water tanks and resumed their psychological first-aid activities.
A total of 705 Palestinians have been killed and 5,700 wounded in the West Bank since 7 October 2023, according to the Ministry of Health.
People receiving psychological support report feeling hopeless and anxious about the constant fear of incursions.
Salah, an MSF-trained volunteer paramedic, works in Jenin:
