The Palestinian Health Ministry announced today that 70 people have been killed by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank since the beginning of the year, Agence France-Presse and BTA reported.
According to the Ministry, 10 children were among the dead, and 38 of the victims were from Jenin province (north), where a large-scale Israeli military operation has been underway in recent days.
Palestinian Authority spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeina condemned the Israeli actions, which he described as “ethnic cleansing“ and “attempted forced displacement“.
"If the violence continues, the situation could spiral out of control and everyone will pay the price", Abu Rudeina warned, calling on the US to intervene before it is too late.
Israeli forces have carried out a major operation in the northern West Bank, destroying numerous buildings. The Israeli army says it has neutralized more than 50 terrorists in the region since January 14.
The operation, which began on January 21, targeted militants affiliated with "Hamas" and "Islamic Jihad". It began two days after a ceasefire was announced between Israel and "Hamas" in the Gaza Strip.
The Palestinian leadership stressed that “the Palestinian people will not accept any plans for forced displacement“. The statement was directed against former US President Donald Trump's proposal to transfer Palestinians from Gaza to safer places such as Egypt or Jordan.