Recent military actions in the northern West Bank have resulted in the displacement of thousands of residents from refugee camps, escalating tensions in the region.
Israel's Military Operation Leads to Expulsion from West Bank Refugee Camps
Israel's Military Operation Leads to Expulsion from West Bank Refugee Camps
Israel's Defense Minister announces refugee camps in Jenin, Tulkarm, and Nur Shams are now uninhabited as the military reinforces its presence.
The Israeli military has progressed with a significant operation across the northern West Bank, leading to the expulsion of residents from three key refugee camps: Jenin, Tulkarm, and Nur Shams. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed that these camps are now "empty" and will remain occupied by Israeli forces for the next year.
Since the operation commenced on January 21, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have deployed a tank division around Jenin – the first such deployment since 2002. The Palestinian Authority has criticized this military escalation, highlighting the implications for regional stability.
The United Nations reported that approximately 40,000 individuals have been forcibly displaced as a consequence of Israel’s operations. Minister Katz stated, “So far, 40,000 Palestinians have evacuated from the refugee camps, which are now empty of residents.” He emphasized that troops have been instructed to obstruct the return of evacuees and to prevent the resurgence of terrorism in these areas, leading to a directive for the UN's Palestinian Refugee Agency (UNRWA) to cease operations in the region.
Nabil Abu Rudeineh, spokesperson for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, labeled the military's actions, including tank deployments, as a "dangerous escalation that will not lead to stability." In defense of the operation, the IDF maintained that its intent is to thwart terrorism, with ongoing actions supported by drones, tank forces, special units, and intelligence operatives.
Since the operation's initiation, the UN has noted at least 51 Palestinian deaths, including seven children, alongside three Israeli soldiers. The operation has inflicted substantial damage on local water and sanitation systems, disrupting essential services for tens of thousands of residents.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reinforced military objectives during a visit to the Tulkarm camp on Friday, ordering troops to heighten their activities in the area. Following recent bombings on three buses in Tel Aviv—suspected to be terrorist acts linked to methods previously identified in the West Bank—Netanyahu stated, "We are entering terrorist strongholds, flattening entire streets that terrorists use."
Israel captured the West Bank during the 1967 Six-Day War and has since established approximately 160 settlements, home to about 700,000 Jewish residents, a move deemed illegal under international law, a position Israel contests.
