Thousands Displaced as Israeli Operations Devastate West Bank Refugee Camps

Thousands of Palestinians remain displaced and homeless following Israeli military operations in the West Bank refugee camps of Tulkarm and Nur Shams, which began in January 2025. Families who fled the camps are now living in makeshift shelters constructed from corrugated metal, plastic sheeting, and wood, often in agricultural areas. Local leaders, commentators, and human rights organizations assert that these actions are not solely counter-terrorism measures but a deliberate strategy of "space engineering," forced displacement, and organized economic strangulation.

The Israeli military's operations, part of "Operation Iron Shield," have resulted in the destruction or severe damage of 48% of buildings in Nur Shams and 36% in Tulkarm, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Over 33,000 Palestinians have been displaced from camps in the northern West Bank, including Tulkarm and Nur Shams. The military has issued demolition orders for 514 structures across Tulkarm, Nur Shams, and Jenin camps, affecting approximately 1,500 housing units. The extensive destruction is viewed by organizations like Al-Marsad as a blatant violation of international law, constituting collective punishment and forced displacement.

Eyewitness accounts describe armored bulldozers leveling multi-story residential buildings and widening narrow alleys to 23 meters for military use. Hassan Ghanem, a former resident of Tulkarm camp, stated his two-story home was demolished without warning or compensation, leaving his family homeless. In Nur Shams, evacuated residential areas have been converted into military training grounds. Mamoun Abu Al-Hija, also displaced, recounted hearing daily gunfire from his former neighborhood, where soldiers train among empty homes.

The situation is further complicated by prior actions of the Palestinian Authority, which imposed a lockdown on the camps in December 2024 as part of its "Defenders of the Homeland" operation to suppress armed groups. This internal security measure heightened tensions, as residents felt it undermined their ability to defend themselves against Israeli incursions.

Local activists and commentators suggest that Israeli intelligence may have played a role in exacerbating the situation by allegedly providing funds to armed groups, thereby mapping their networks and creating a pretext for expanded military operations. This alleged strategy, if true, aimed to dismantle the infrastructure supporting Palestinian refugees and sideline the refugee issue.

The economic impact on Tulkarm has been severe. Commercial activity has plummeted by 75% in the last three years, unemployment has surged to 37.4%, and extreme poverty affects 16% of the population. Over 23,000 workers lost their jobs after October 7th due to the cancellation of work permits in Israel, and lockdowns have also impacted trade with Palestinian citizens of Israel. Rental prices have sharply increased, placing further strain on displaced families struggling to find housing and rebuild their lives. Despite the economic hardship, the Tulkarm Chamber of Commerce organized a trade festival to provide emergency economic relief and support for affected families.

The Association for Civil Rights has petitioned Israel's High Court of Justice (Bagatz) demanding that displaced residents be allowed to return home, arguing that their displacement violates the Fourth Geneva Convention. The state's response claims residents left voluntarily, a position the court has questioned given the military's continued refusal to permit their return. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that residents will not be allowed back, labeling them "terrorists," and Defense Minister Israel Katz has indicated support for special legislation to prevent their return. The military is expected to inform the court that the residents' return is contingent on actions by the Palestinian Authority and the complete redesign of the camps into "regular urban neighborhoods" by the IDF, effectively dismantling their refugee status.