A military operation launched in January has led to the forced displacement of over 40,000 Palestinians in the northern part of the West Bank. The UN agency assisting Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, warns that this is the longest such operation since the second intifada.
The operation started in Jenin camp and expanded to several other camps, including Tulkarm, Nur Shams, and El Far’a. Thousands of families have been displaced due to repeated and destructive operations by Israeli forces.
UNRWA says the displacement cycle is a result of an increasingly harsh environment, with Israel using air strikes, bulldozers, and advanced weaponry. The agency has seen an increase in armed Palestinian activity, including improvised explosive devices deployed near UN facilities and civilian infrastructure.
The situation worsens with new laws restricting UNRWA’s operations in Israeli territory and preventing contact between Israeli officials and the agency. This has left the organization unable to raise concerns about civilian suffering or provide humanitarian aid.
UN humanitarian affairs office OCHA reports that ongoing operations have caused at least 40 civilian casualties, while the World Food Programme has reached nearly 1,200 households with cash assistance to affected Palestinians.
Source: https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/02/1159971