Jerusalem: The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) has raised alarms over a significant escalation in Israeli colonist violence and settlement expansion in the West Bank. This situation is contributing to the forced displacement of Palestinians and paving the path for a de facto annexation of the territory.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency – WAFA, UNRWA Director of Affairs in the West Bank, Roland Friedrich, highlighted in a post on X the severe impact of the ongoing violence and settlement development. He noted that these actions have coerced vulnerable Palestinian communities into leaving their lands.
Friedrich emphasized that the rise in Israeli colonist violence, combined with settlement expansion, destruction, and evictions, has resulted in the forced displacement of many Palestinians. He pointed out that these actions are facilitating further annexation of the region.
The UNRWA official further reported continued destruction and displacement in the northern West Bank, notably mentioning the evacuation of refugee camps in Jenin, Tulkarm, and Nur Shams. He highlighted the prevention of returning residents following a large-scale military operation initiated by the Israeli army on January 21.
Friedrich also noted that Israeli laws targeting UNRWA have led to the shutdown of UN schools and the expulsion of international staff, reflecting the growing restrictions on the agency’s activities within the occupied Palestinian territories.
He cautioned against using the easing of pressure in Gaza under the ceasefire agreement to intensify the occupation elsewhere. Despite these challenges, he stated that UNRWA continues its operations on the ground, providing essential services during the escalation, as it has done during previous crises.
The UN official underscored the interconnected future of Gaza and the West Bank, expressing UNRWA’s readiness to collaborate with all parties to ensure a comprehensive solution. Such an outcome could serve as a foundation for peace and stability across the occupied Palestinian territories, the region, and for future generations.