Analysis: The battle for Jenin

Accounts are emerging of what went on in the Jenin refugee camp during what is believed to have been the heaviest fighting of Israel's campaign in the West Bank.




The death toll among Palestinian civilians, fighters and Israeli soldiers has been high.

Palestinians have called on the United Nations to investigate what they claim is an Israeli massacre of Palestinians.

The camp is home to 13,000 people and, according to Israeli officials, is one of the main sources of terrorism - in Ariel Sharon's words, "a hornets' nest".

Palestinians say there were extra-judicial executions in the camp - an accusation strongly denied by the Israeli Defence Force (IDF).

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" I never imagined they (Israeli soldiers) would use such brutal tactics against us "
Wijdan Abu Sunayah

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There is no independent verification of these accounts - no medical or aid workers, international agencies or journalists have been able to penetrate any distance into the camp.
The United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, estimates that the fighting has driven 2,000 to 3,000 people from their homes, and describes the humanitarian crisis in the camp and the city as extremely serious.

Wijdan Abu Sunayah and her two children left her home in the refugee camp on Wednesday.

She is now sheltering with family in the city.

She described to BBC News Online the attack on the camp.

"There was a lot of shelling and helicopters. Then the soldiers came into the camp, but met resistance so they moved from house to house," she said.

"They weren't able to go in the street so they had to hide in houses.

"They would fire on a house, people would try to escape, some were shot some got away," she added.