DZWatch Exclusive: Israeli forces’ displacement of tens of thousands of Palestinians from refugee camps in the West Bank constitutes war crimes and crimes against humanity, according to a new report. Human Rights Watch (HRW) is calling for senior Israeli officials to be held accountable before international courts.
The report, titled “All My Dreams Were Lost: Israel’s Forced Displacement of Palestinians in the West Bank,” details a large-scale military operation conducted by Israeli forces between January and February 2025. Codenamed “Iron Wall,” the operation targeted the Jenin, Tulkarem, and Nur Shams refugee camps following a temporary ceasefire declaration in Gaza.
According to HRW, residents of the camps received sudden orders to evacuate their homes via loudspeakers on drones. Subsequently, ground forces stormed the areas, allegedly looting property and interrogating residents before forcibly displacing an estimated 32,000 Palestinians. The organization states it has verified satellite imagery and video footage documenting the extensive destruction in the three camps.
Witness testimonies collected by HRW describe the Israeli military’s use of Apache helicopters, drones, bulldozers, and armored vehicles. Witnesses reported seeing bulldozers demolishing homes during the displacement operations. “They were screaming and throwing things everywhere… they were masked and carrying different weapons. One of the soldiers said: You don’t have a home here anymore, you have to leave,” recounted a 54-year-old woman quoted in the report.
The report alleges that the Israeli military provided no shelter or humanitarian aid to those displaced. Many were forced to seek refuge in overcrowded relatives’ homes, mosques, or schools. Furthermore, HRW claims that Israeli forces have continued to prevent residents from returning to their homes, even in the absence of active military operations, and have reportedly fired upon those who attempted to do so.
