Israeli offensive on West Bank sees the most Palestinians displaced there since 1967 War

Human rights experts point out that Israel's deadly offensive in the occupied West Bank has displaced approximately 45,000 Palestinians, marking the largest displacement of population since the 1967 war. This large-scale displacement raises serious concerns about human rights violations and the humanitarian crisis in the region.

Since the summer, Israel has been launching brutal offensives in the occupied territories. Israeli forces at that time landed in the northern part of the occupied West Bank, attacking cities such as Jenin, Tulkarem, and Tubas, using military helicopters and large armored convoys. These operations have resulted in significant damage and casualties among the Palestinian population.

After a fragile ceasefire agreement was signed in the Gaza Strip, Israel further escalated its attacks. The Palestinian Ministry of Health stated that in the same month, the Israeli military launched a new offensive on Jenin and its surrounding areas, resulting in the deaths of 25 Palestinians. The increased military activity is creating an atmosphere of fear and instability for the residents.

Philippe Lazzarini, head of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), stated that Israel has launched at least 38 airstrikes in the occupied West Bank since January, which is a significant escalation. Prior to 2024, airstrikes were extremely rare in the occupied West Bank. The increased reliance on airstrikes demonstrates a concerning shift in tactics.

Israel has concentrated its firepower on refugee camps such as Jenin, Tulkarem, and Tubas. These refugee camps are home to descendants of Palestinians displaced during the 1948 "Catastrophe" (Nakba in Arabic), when the State of Israel was established. Approximately 750,000 Palestinians were driven from their homes by Zionist militias during the 1948 Nakba. Today, their descendants constitute the world's 7 million Palestinian refugees.

Approximately one million refugees reside in the occupied West Bank, with about a quarter living in 19 refugee camps. The International Federation for Human Rights stated in February that approximately 45,000 Palestinians have been displaced from the northern part of the occupied West Bank. The dire living conditions and constant threat of displacement continue to exacerbate the humanitarian crisis.

UNRWA stated that some refugee camps are "almost empty," adding that this is the longest-lasting military operation in the area since the Second Intifada of 2000-2005. Human rights experts point out that this is also the most destructive period since the 1967 war, when hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were displaced. Approximately 95% of these Palestinians fled to Jordan, with a small number going to Syria and Lebanon.

Meanwhile, Israel is working to deepen its occupation of the area, which experts warn poses a threat of annexation. In February of this year, the Israeli military issued two decrees confiscating more than 10,000 dunams (1,000 hectares) of land in the occupied West Bank. The military called it a "temporary military decision," targeting 8,734 dunams of land in the Tubas area and 2,394 dunams of land in several villages east of Ramallah. This land confiscation further restricts Palestinian access to resources and undermines their prospects for a viable future.