Israeli military operations in the West Bank have forced tens of thousands of Palestinians to flee their homes, leaving many uncertain if they will be allowed to return.
The United Nations (UN) estimates that at least 37,000 people have been displaced in the past month due to an ongoing Israeli crackdown on militant groups. The offensive has largely emptied four refugee camps, originally established to house Palestinians displaced in 1948, which have since grown into densely populated urban areas.
When Israeli snipers appeared in her neighborhood, Haleemeh Zawaydeh, 63, grabbed her family and fled on foot, leaving everything behind. “There was no time to pack,” she said. Now, like thousands of others, she waits to see if she can return.
The situation remains uncertain. Israel’s defense minister announced that troops could remain in the area for a year and that displaced Palestinians might not be allowed back. In the meantime, many are struggling to find shelter.
Israeli forces have demolished homes, torn up roads, and damaged water and electricity infrastructure across the affected areas. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports an urgent need for financial aid to help at least 4,000 families cover rent.
With limited options, displaced families are turning to friends, relatives, university dorms, and makeshift shelters. Aid efforts are struggling due to funding shortages, and UNRWA, the main UN agency for Palestinian refugees, faces additional challenges due to Israeli restrictions.
According to Roland Friedrich, UNRWA’s West Bank field director, this is the largest forced displacement in the region since the 1967 Mideast War, when 250,000 Palestinians were expelled following Israel’s seizure of the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem.
The latest offensive began on January 21, two days after Israel declared a ceasefire with Hamas in Gaza. Israeli forces initially focused on Jenin camp, a frequent target of military raids since Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack. This time, however, the military expanded its operations into other refugee camps, including Tulkarem, Far’a, and Nur Shams, areas known for militant activity.
Israeli officials say their forces have engaged in intense battles with militants in these camps, which are now mostly emptied of civilians. However, the mass displacement is drawing international concern.
The removals are reviving memories of the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, when 750,000 Palestinians were forced from their homes. Forcible population transfers are illegal under international law, and rights groups warn that if this becomes official Israeli policy, it could amount to a war crime.
Meanwhile, Israel’s government and military have echoed former U.S. President Donald Trump’s call for the permanent removal of Gaza’s population, raising further fears that displacement in the West Bank could become part of a broader strategy.