JERUSALEM – Tens of thousands of Palestinians have been forced to flee refugee camps in the occupied West Bank as a weeks-long Israeli military operation demolishes homes and destroys infrastructure, according to Palestinian authorities.
Mass Displacement in Jenin, Tulkarm, and Nur Shams
🚨 Israeli forces launched the offensive on January 21, 2025, deploying hundreds of troops and bulldozers in Jenin refugee camp.
📍 Jenin: 17,000 residents displaced, leaving the camp nearly empty.
📍 Nur Shams: 6,000 people (two-thirds of the camp’s population) have fled.
📍 Tulkarm: 10,000 displaced as Israeli military operations expand.
“The ones who are left are trapped,” said Nihad al-Shawish, head of the Nur Shams camp services committee.
Israel’s Justification & Worsening Humanitarian Conditions
🔹 Israel claims the offensive targets Iran-backed militant groups in the West Bank.
🔹 Palestinian officials report that homes have been demolished, roads dug up, and access to water and electricity cut off.
🔹 Israeli military denies forcing evacuations, stating that residents are free to leave or stay.
Escalating Tensions with UNRWA
📌 As the military operation continues, Israel has moved to ban the UN Palestinian relief agency (UNRWA) from its headquarters in East Jerusalem.
📌 Israel accuses UNRWA of ties to Hamas, alleging that some of its workers participated in the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack.
With thousands displaced and entire camps devastated, the crisis in the West Bank continues to escalate, raising international humanitarian concerns.