- UN reports 37,000+ displaced from four historic refugee camps
- Israeli military destroys 200+ homes and critical infrastructure
- 4,000 families require emergency rental assistance to survive
The humanitarian crisis in the West Bank reaches unprecedented levels as families like Haleemeh Zawaydeh’s flee gunfire with only the clothes on their backs. Recent military operations have transformed refugee camps—originally established after the 1948 Arab-Israeli war—into uninhabitable zones through systematic demolition of roads, water systems, and electricity networks. Roland Friedrich of UNRWA confirms this marks the largest forced displacement since Israel occupied the territory in 1967.
In Jenin camp, where 85% of structures show combat damage, displaced residents face impossible choices. Many attempt daily returns to salvage belongings, only to encounter drone patrols and armored checkpoints. Local charities report families splitting across multiple shelters to accommodate gender segregation rules, with children sleeping on donated mats in repurposed schoolrooms. The economic toll compounds daily: 62% of displaced workers lost livelihoods tied to destroyed commercial zones.
Nur Shams camp’s Mohammed Abdullah embodies the generational trauma. During a brief demolition warning period, he retrieved his son Ali’s school certificates from their bomb-damaged home—a 15-year-old killed in earlier clashes. Memories crumble with the walls,he said, clutching photos of Ali’s funeral procession. UN mapping shows 40% of Nur Shams’ housing units now face bulldozers under expanded military clearance policies.
The Palestinian Authority’s 16-truck aid convoy proves woefully inadequate against 23,000+ shelter requests. Compounding the crisis, Israel’s freeze on $150 million in monthly tax revenues paralyzes local governance. Political analyst Dr. Lina Khatib notes: This strategic depopulation mirrors Gaza’s 2023 displacement patterns, testing international law’s limits on mass transfers.
Three critical insights emerge: First, infrastructure destruction creates multi-year recovery timelines—water system repairs alone require $28 million. Second, host communities face 18-24% rent spikes as displaced families compete for housing. Third, youth radicalization risks surge with 55% of displaced under 25 experiencing prolonged school interruptions.
As protests mount outside Tulkarem camp, UNRWA’s hands remain tied by Israeli bans on coordination. With Defense Ministry plans for year-long troop deployments, displaced families face a grim reality: return remains uncertain, temporary shelters strain resources, and the world’s attention drifts elsewhere.
