The United Nations Human Rights Office recently released a report highlighting the forcible displacement of over 33,000 Palestinians from refugee camps in the occupied West Bank. The findings detail the actions of Israeli security forces in the Jenin, Nur Shams, and Tulkarm refugee camps during January and February 2025. These operations led to the destruction of homes and infrastructure, with essential services being cut off, compelling residents to evacuate. The UN office emphasizes that these actions violate international law, potentially qualifying as forcible transfer. More details can be accessed here.
The report documents the impact of Operation Iron Wall, which extended between December 2024 and January 2026. Israeli forces reportedly conducted operations that resulted in substantial civilian casualties, disrupted water and electricity supplies, restricted humanitarian access, and compelled residents to leave their homes. By the end of 2025, a significant percentage of structures in Jenin, Nur Shams, and Tulkarm camps were destroyed or damaged. More than 33,000 Palestinians were displaced, with many remaining unable to return even by mid-2026.
The office raised grave concerns that the long-term and systematic nature of the displacement could constitute a crime against humanity, specifically highlighting the risks of forcible transfer and collective punishment. Additionally, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, remarked that the operation seemed aimed at expelling Palestinians to facilitate Israeli settlements. Türk stressed the need for Israel to cease further forced displacements in accordance with international law.
The actions described in the report contradict Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, which prohibits forcible transfers of protected persons from occupied territories, except under stringent conditions related to safety and military necessity. Furthermore, the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court classifies such deportation or forcible transfer as crimes against humanity when executed systematically against civilian populations.
While Israel justifies Operation Iron Wall as a counterterrorism measure targeting armed groups, other organizations have corroborated the report’s findings, noting the extensive destruction and evacuation of the camps’ civilian population. An advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice in 2024 had also described Israel’s continued occupation of Palestinian territories as unlawful, urging an end to the occupation.