West bank: The occupied West Bank is facing its most severe humanitarian crisis since 1967, as highlighted by the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA). The agency warned of large-scale displacement and extensive destruction in refugee camps due to ongoing Israeli military operations.
According to Anadolu Agency, Philippe Lazzarini, head of UNRWA, stated that 33,000 people remain forcibly displaced from northern refugee camps one year after Israel’s ‘Iron Wall’ operation commenced. He further explained that Israeli forces have been demolishing large sections of these camps, significantly reducing the chances for these communities to recover.
Lazzarini emphasized the need for continued political and financial support from member states to enable UNRWA to assist newly displaced Palestinian refugees who have been pushed deeper into poverty, lacking viable alternatives for healthcare, education, and welfare.
Since the beginning of its operations in the Gaza Strip in October 2023, Israel has intensified ac
tions in the West Bank, focusing on demolition, displacement of Palestinians, and expansion of settlements, according to Palestinian authorities. At least 1,108 Palestinians have been killed, and nearly 11,000 injured in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, with 21,000 detained by Israeli forces and settlers.
In a related incident, illegal Israeli settlers vandalized a mosque in the northern West Bank on Friday, marking another attack on places of worship and Palestinian property. The official Palestinian news agency, Wafa, reported that settlers stormed the Beit al-Sheikh Mosque, destroying its contents and forcing worshippers to conduct prayers outdoors.
The attack on the mosque and destruction of orchard fencing for cattle grazing are part of ongoing efforts to prevent residents from accessing Khirbet Tana after its population was forcibly expelled last year, as described by local land defense coordinator Thaer Hanani.
Israel’s Peace Now organization notes that over 500,000 illegal settlers reside i
n the West Bank, along with more than 250,000 in settlements on occupied East Jerusalem land. The UN deems Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territories illegal under international law, believing they undermine the viability of a two-state solution. Palestinian officials continue to urge the international community to apply pressure on Israel to halt settlement activities.