RAMALLAH, Palestine

A Palestinian political party leader said on Friday that Israel is committing "ethnic cleansing" in the Jenin refugee camp in the northern occupied West Bank, and called for national unity to thwart the plan.

Mustafa Barghouti, the leader of the political party Palestinian National Initiative, said in a statement that “the occupation (Israel) is carrying out dangerous ethnic cleansing in Jenin, forcing civilians and families to leave their homes on foot under violent repression and humiliating searches.”

“The ongoing events confirm the remarks by Israeli army chief Herzi Halevi that the goals and repressive practices are identical in Gaza and the West Bank which are subjected to collective punishment, checkpoints, arrests, and abuse,” he added.

Barghouti emphasized the need for Palestinian national unity to confront "Israeli ethnic cleansing and genocide."

The Israeli military offensive, now in its fourth day, has claimed at least 12 lives and injured more than 40, according to official Palestinian sources.

On Thursday, Jenin Deputy Governor Mansour al-Saadi warned of a potential large-scale invasion of the Jenin refugee camp by Israeli forces, comparing the possible operation to the relentless violence in the Gaza Strip.

Israeli media reports suggest that the assault on Jenin is a political move by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to appease far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who opposes the current ceasefire in Gaza.

Reports indicate that Netanyahu promised the attack to prevent Smotrich from resigning, which could destabilize the government.

Tensions have been running high across the occupied West Bank due to Israel’s ongoing war on Gaza, where nearly 47,300 people have been killed, most of them women and children, and more than 111,500 injured since Oct. 7, 2023.

At least 873 Palestinians have been killed and over 6,700 injured by Israeli forces in the occupied territory, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.

A ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement took effect in Gaza on Jan. 19, suspending the Israeli assault on the enclave.

In July, the International Court of Justice declared Israel’s long-standing occupation of Palestinian territories illegal, calling for the evacuation of all settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

* Writing by Ikram Kouachi.