Amman: The United Nations reported unprecedented levels of mass displacement in the occupied West Bank-the highest since Israel's occupation began nearly 60 years ago-warning that ongoing Israeli military operations in the northern West Bank, now in their seventh month, displaced tens of thousands of civilians and raised fears of potential "ethnic cleansing."
Spokesperson for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), Juliette Touma, stated that the military operation in the West Bank is the longest since the Second Intifada.
What is happening is affecting numerous refugee camps in the region and is causing the largest displacement of Palestinians in the West Bank since 1967.
The UN Human Rights Office also warned that the mass forced displacement being carried out by Israeli occupation forces may amount to "ethnic cleansing."
It noted that approximately 30,000 Palestinians remain forcibly displaced since the Israeli occupation army launched "Operation Iron Wall" in northern West Bank in January. During the same period, Israeli security forces issued demolition orders for nearly 1,400 homes in the area-figures described as "alarming."
According to the UN, Israeli demolitions have displaced 2,907 Palestinians across the West Bank since October 2023, while settler violence led to the forced displacement of another 2,400 Palestinians-nearly half of them children.
The UN Human Rights Office expressed deep concern over these developments, describing them as part of an effort to "empty large parts of the West Bank of Palestinians." It emphasized that the permanent displacement of civilians within occupied territories constitutes an unlawful transfer of population.
The escalation, the UN warned, amounts to "ethnic cleansing" and a "crime against humanity" targeting the population of the West Bank.
So far, 757 attacks by Israeli settlers have been documented in the West Bank during the first half of 2025-an increase of 13% compared to the same period in 2024.
The agency also noted that 96 Palestinians were injured in settler attacks in June alone-the highest monthly toll in over two decades.
Violence in the West Bank sharply escalated since Israel launched its assault on Gaza in October 2023, which has thus far killed over 58,000 civilians and wounded more than 139,000 others, according to the latest but still incomplete figures.
