Camps in the Northern West Bank.. 'Scorched Earth' Policy to Displace 50,000 Palestinians and Liquidate the Right of Return

The pace of military operations carried out by the Israeli occupation forces in the camps of the occupied northern West Bank has escalated, specifically targeting the Tulkarm, Nur Shams, and Jenin camps. Concerned parties have recorded a harsh humanitarian and material toll since the beginning of 2025, with figures indicating the complete destruction of more than 3,000 housing units, turning entire neighborhoods into rubble.

This ongoing military campaign has led to a widespread wave of displacement, with approximately 50,000 Palestinians finding themselves homeless after losing their homes and possessions. The repercussions of these operations are not limited to material destruction; they have also extended to the martyrdom of dozens and the arrest of hundreds, amid a suffocating siege imposed by the army on these densely populated areas.

In a related context, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) confirmed that settler violence has become an existential threat across the West Bank, with attacks affecting more than 230 areas. Stéphane Dujarric, spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, stated that these systematic attacks contribute to creating an environment that expels Palestinian residents and deepens the humanitarian crisis.

Behind these statistics, painful human stories emerge of families who lost everything in moments, such as the family of displaced Anas Eshteiwi, who describes his current life as unbearable suffering. Eshteiwi says they waited long, hoping to return, but now face a reality lacking the most basic elements of human dignity and privacy in temporary displacement centers.

On another field, residents of Nur Shams camp watch their homes from afar without being able to access them due to the camp becoming a closed military operations zone. Citizens face the direct risk of death if they attempt to retrieve any simple belongings from under the rubble, making the idea of returning to normal life a distant prospect for now.

For his part, Palestinian Legislative Council member Hassan Khreisheh believes that the occupation, through these operations, seeks to market illusions about temporary withdrawals, while the real goal is to make return impossible. Khreisheh explained that the Israeli strategy aims to definitively resolve the refugee issue by turning the camps into areas unfit for human habitation.

Data from the Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission indicates that the occupation issued military orders in May 2026 to confiscate hundreds of dunams in Jenin Governorate to establish new military points. These steps aim to strengthen security control and expand settlements at the expense of Palestinian lands, closing the horizon for any future political solutions.

It is worth noting that the West Bank has witnessed an unprecedented escalation since October 2023, with approximately 40,000 attacks documented by occupation forces and settlers until the end of 2025. These attacks were distributed among killing, destruction, and land confiscation, including more than 7,500 attacks carried out by settlers under army protection, reflecting an integrated policy to displace Palestinians.

The broader goal goes beyond direct military action to liquidate the refugee issue and fatally undermine the right of return by turning the camps into uninhabitable environments.