A weekslong Israeli military operation across several West Bank cities has displaced approximately 40,000 Palestinians from their homes, marking the largest civilian displacement in the territory since the Arab-Israeli war of 1967, according to historians and researchers.
The Israeli campaigns targeting armed Palestinian groups in northern West Bank areas have forced many residents to seek shelter with friends and relatives or to camp in public spaces such as wedding halls, schools, mosques, and municipal buildings.
The Israeli military asserts that the operation aims to combat rising militancy in Jenin, Tulkarem, and near Tubas, focusing on gunmen allegedly involved in or planning attacks against Israeli civilians. However, Palestinians express concerns that this may be a strategy to permanently displace them and increase control over areas governed by the Palestinian Authority, which has also been engaged in conflicts with militants recently.
Many of the displaced individuals are descendants of refugees from the 1948 conflict, known in Arabic as the Nakba. This renewed displacement evokes painful memories of a significant trauma in Palestinian history.
While around 3,000 displaced individuals have returned home, the majority remain without shelter after more than three weeks. This displacement surpasses that of a similar Israeli campaign in 2002 during the second intifada, which saw significant military actions in various cities.
The current displacement figures also exceed those from intra-Palestinian clashes earlier this year, which resulted in about 1,000 residents leaving Jenin.
As in 2002, many displaced individuals may find their homes destroyed, as the Israeli military has demolished numerous buildings in the invaded areas, disrupting essential infrastructure such as roads, water pipes, and power lines.
The United Nations office for the coordination of humanitarian affairs reported extensive damage to water and sanitation systems in four densely populated neighborhoods, which are referred to as refugee camps due to their historical significance. Some water infrastructure has reportedly been contaminated with sewage.
Hakeem Abu Safiye, who oversees emergency services in Tulkarem camp, stated, “We’ve reached a point where the refugee camps are out of order. They are uninhabitable. Even if the army pulls out, we are not sure what will be left to repair.”
The full extent of the damage remains uncertain as military operations continue in many affected areas. However, the United Nations has documented severe damage to over 150 homes in Jenin, while the Israeli military has acknowledged the destruction of at least 23 buildings.
Displaced residents report being ordered to evacuate by soldiers using loudspeakers, with threats of violence if they did not comply. Colonel Nadav Shoshani of the Israel Defense Forces stated that the military's objective is to eliminate militant groups, including Hamas, to prevent future attacks on Israeli civilians.
Colonel Shoshani acknowledged that some individuals were instructed to leave specific buildings near militant hideouts but denied any broader policy of forced evacuation or displacement. He emphasized that those wishing to leave were provided safe passage.
Palestinians, however, contest the military's claims, pointing to statements from Israeli officials advocating for the displacement of Palestinians and the dismantling of the Palestinian Authority.
Israel captured the West Bank in 1967, leading to the expulsion of many Palestinians and the establishment of settlements on private Palestinian land. The current Israeli government has intensified efforts to solidify control over the territory since taking office in 2022.
Maha Nassar, a Palestinian American historian, noted that the scale of the current displacement and the rhetoric surrounding it signify a troubling escalation in the conflict, potentially altering the political and demographic landscape of the region.