A U.N. special envoy touring the ruins of the Palestinian refugee camp at Jenin has blasted Israel for denying search and rescue teams unrestricted access to the camp.
Envoy Terje Larsen said Jenin – the scene of fierce fighting between Israeli troops and Palestinian militants – smells of death and looks like an earthquake hit it. He called Israel’s decision to block access to the camp “morally repugnant,” and described conditions there as “horrific beyond belief.”
Israel declared the camp a closed military zone when it invaded April third, in a push to end a spate of deadly Palestinian suicide bombings. It had refused to allow aid groups or media unrestricted access to the area since fighting stopped last week, claiming many surviving structures are booby-trapped with explosives.
Thursday, Mr. Larsen denounced that argument, saying Israel could have allowed international experts to help clear the area of explosives and search for survivors.
Palestinians call the Israeli military operation at Jenin a massacre that killed hundreds of people. But Israel strongly disputes that claim, saying dozens – not hundreds – of Palestinians died, along with 23 Israeli soldiers.
The U.N. Security Council is set to begin public debate on Jenin later Thursday. Arab nations are expected to demand an international probe.
