UN Report Highlights Forcible Displacement from West Bank Refugee Camps

West bank: Israeli security forces forcibly displaced the entire population of three Palestine refugee camps in the occupied West Bank in January and February last year, continuing to prevent their return, in violation of international law, according to a new report by the UN human rights office, OHCHR. The operation saw military, police, and other forces kill civilians, destroy homes, and block humanitarian access to the Jenin, Nur Shams, and Tulkarem refugee camps. According to United Nations, the report details the widespread destruction caused by Israeli forces during Operation Iron Wall, noting that by October 2025, a significant portion of structures in the camps had been destroyed or damaged. The displacement operation reportedly affected over 33,000 Palestinians, raising serious concerns about crimes against humanity, including forcible transfer and ethnic cleansing. The report highlights that Israeli forces used airstrikes and armoured bulldozers to make entire camps uninhabitable, actions that sug gest collective punishment. During the operation, 102 Palestinians, including children, were killed, accounting for nearly half of all killings by Israeli forces in the West Bank during that period. UN human rights chief Volker Trk criticized the operation, suggesting its aim was to expel Palestinians and pave the way for more Israeli settlements. He urged Israel to end its long-standing occupation of Palestinian territories, in line with the International Court of Justice's ruling. As of July, around 33,362 people remain displaced, according to the UN's Palestine refugee relief agency, UNRWA. The Israeli Defence Minister had earlier ordered the military to maintain its presence in the camps and prevent the return of displaced Palestinians.