UN warns of forced displacement in West Bank refugee camps

A report by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) warns of the forced displacement of more than 33,000 Palestinians from three refugee camps in the northern West Bank. The displacement occurred during January and February 2025 as part of the Israeli military's ‘Operation Iron Wall’.

According to the report, Israeli security forces destroyed or damaged significant portions of infrastructure in the Jenin, Nur Shams, and Tulkarm camps. Specifically, 52 percent of buildings in Jenin, 48 percent in Nur Shams, and 36 percent in Tulkarm were affected. The report notes that the systematic nature of the displacement raises serious concerns regarding forced transfer as a crime against humanity.

During the period covered, 102 Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces in the West Bank, including 21 children. The report details how military operations, including airstrikes and the use of armored bulldozers, have rendered the camps uninhabitable by cutting off water, electricity, and humanitarian aid.