Mass displacement in West Bank as Israel confronts militants

In the largest displacement in the occupied West Bank since the 1967 Mideast war, tens of thousands of Palestinians have fled their homes following intensified Israeli military operations. The recent crackdown, which began on January 21, has forced families to evacuate through difficult terrain, recalling past conflicts that have reshaped the region.

"By car and on foot, through muddy olive groves and snipers’ sight lines, tens of thousands of Palestinians in recent weeks have fled Israeli military operations across the northern West Bank — the largest displacement in the occupied territory since the 1967 Mideast war."

The military operation initially focused on the city of Jenin, expanded into neighbouring towns such as Tulkarem, Far’a, and Nur Shams. The escalation has scattered families, evoking memories of the 1948 Nakba, when 700,000 Palestinians were displaced.

"This is our nakba,” said Abed Sabagh, 53, who bundled his seven children into the car on Feb. 9 as sound bombs blared in Nur Shams camp, where he was born to parents who fled the 1948 war."

Escalation of Tactics and Humanitarian Crisis

Experts and humanitarian officials have noted a shift in Israeli military tactics, drawing parallels between the West Bank operations and those seen in Gaza. Reports indicate that more than 40,100 Palestinians have been displaced due to the ongoing military campaign, with living conditions deteriorating rapidly.

"This is unprecedented. When you add to this the destruction of infrastructure, we’re reaching a point where the camps are becoming uninhabitable,” said Roland Friedrich, director of West Bank affairs for the UN Palestinian refugee agency.

Despite Israeli military statements denying evacuation orders, displaced residents have shared accounts of forced removals. Many were given minimal time to leave their homes, leading to harrowing journeys under threat.

"I was sobbing, asking them, ‘Why do you want me to leave my house?’ My baby is upstairs, just let me get my baby please,’” Ayat Abdullah, 30, recalled from a shelter for displaced people in the village of Kafr Al-Labd. “They gave us seven minutes. I brought my children, thank God. Nothing else.”

Survival and Resistance

Communities have mobilized to support the displaced, with makeshift shelters and food distributions organized in towns like Anabta. Volunteers provide essential supplies but insist that the displacement remains temporary.

"This is our duty in the current security situation,” said Thabet A’mar, the mayor of Anabta. “We insist that their displacement is temporary.”

Despite the hardships, some residents have chosen to stay behind, scavenging for resources and enduring dire conditions rather than leaving their homes.

"They are doing everything they can to push us out,” he said of Israel’s military, which, according to the UN agency for refugees, has demolished hundreds of homes across the four camps this year."

Destruction and Uncertainty

Families returning to their homes have been met with devastation, describing looted belongings, destroyed infrastructure and disturbing acts of vandalism.

"It’s like they want us to feel that we’re never safe,” she said. ”That we have no control.”

The Israeli army maintains that its actions are part of counterterrorism efforts, emphasizing that steps have been taken to minimize civilian impact. However, reports from displaced families paint a starkly different picture, one of loss, instability and an uncertain future in the West Bank.