West Bank displacement reaches highest levels since 1967

Reports indicate a significant displacement of Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, described as the largest wave of displacement in the region since 1967. According to United Nations data cited by Haaretz, more than 33,000 residents from the refugee camps of Jenin, Tulkarm, and Nur Shams have been unable to return to their homes following the ‘Iron Wall’ military operation launched in January 2025.

While the Israeli government has framed its policies as encouraging ‘voluntary migration,’ critics and legal petitions suggest a pattern of mass transfer. Residents reported being ordered to leave by soldiers and subsequently being barred from returning. Additionally, the destruction of homes within the camps has left many displaced individuals without residences.

In response to a petition by the Association for Civil Rights in Israel, the Israeli Supreme Court recently ordered authorities to provide a timeline for the return of residents from the Jenin, Tulkarm, and Nur Shams camps and to explore ways to accelerate the process. However, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has rejected judicial intervention regarding the military presence in these camps, stating that forces will remain there for the long term.