UNRWA Director warns: Destruction and forced displacement continue in the northern West Bank.

The Director of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in the West Bank issued a serious warning, confirming that the destruction and forced displacement operations carried out by the occupying army are continuing at an escalating pace in the northern occupied West Bank.

The UN official emphasized that "the future of Gaza and the West Bank is one," warning that the withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, under the recent agreement, should not be used as a cover to tighten the grip of the occupation in other areas.

These statements come at a critical time when the world's attention is focused on the Gaza Strip to follow up on the implementation of the terms of the "Trump Plan" for a ceasefire and the signing of the "Sharm El-Sheikh Peace Document."

Amid this intense international focus on consolidating the truce and starting reconstruction operations in the sector, UNRWA highlights a deteriorating and concerning reality in the West Bank.

The agency points out that the military and political tactics of the occupation are escalating there, away from the spotlight, threatening to undermine the foundations of any future peace.

According to the UNRWA Director, the northern West Bank is witnessing a worsening humanitarian crisis. He explained that the forced evacuations of key camps, specifically Jenin Camp, Tulkarm Camp, and Nur Shams Camp, have driven Palestinians to displacement.

He added that this displacement is not only a result of the direct military operations of the occupying army but is also a direct consequence of the significant escalation in "settler violence."

This violence, which is protected by the occupying forces, has created an environment of fear and terror that has made it nearly impossible for Palestinian families to remain in their homes and camps, exacerbating the internal displacement crisis in the West Bank.

The situation has not stopped at the field escalation; the UN official confirmed that these practices are accompanied by a legislative and administrative assault targeting the existence of the UN agency directly.

The UNRWA Director in the West Bank stressed that "the occupation's laws against the agency have led to the closure of its schools and the de facto expulsion of its staff."

This comes in the context of a systematic campaign led by the right-wing occupation government since the attacks of October 7, 2023, to delegitimize UNRWA and dry up its funding sources, ultimately aiming to end its operations entirely in the Palestinian territories, including Jerusalem and the West Bank.

The closure of schools and the expulsion of staff means a complete undermining of the organization's ability to provide its essential services to thousands of refugees, contributing to the dismantling of the community structure in the camps.

The statement from the UNRWA Director represents a clear political and diplomatic message to the international community and the mediators involved in the Gaza agreement.

By emphasizing that "the future of Gaza and the West Bank is one," the UN official implicitly rejects any fragmented solutions that deal with the sector in isolation from the West Bank.

UNRWA's warnings indicate real concerns that the calm on the Gaza front may serve as a cover for passing the occupation's plans in the West Bank, represented by settlement expansion and the implementation of forced displacement policies, especially in northern West Bank areas that have witnessed intensive military operations for over two years.

Linking "settler violence" to "the evacuation of camps" shows a systematic pattern aimed at making life impossible for Palestinians in those areas.

Additionally, the direct targeting of UNRWA through laws is seen as a strategic step to remove the last international safety nets supporting the resilience of refugees, facilitating their silent displacement.

The UNRWA Director emphasized that any withdrawal of occupying forces from Gaza should not lead to "tightening the grip of the occupation in other areas."

Thus, UNRWA places the ball in the court of the international community and the guarantor states of the agreement, demanding that they ensure that any upcoming political path includes both the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and that immediate violations aimed at imposing a new reality on the ground are halted.