Human Rights Watch has accused Israel of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity after the forced expulsion of tens of thousands of Palestinians from three West Bank refugee camps in early 2025. The rights group called for urgent international action to hold Israeli officials accountable and prevent further abuses.
Key Details
According to HRW, around 32,000 residents of Jenin, Tulkarm, and Nur Shams camps were displaced during “Operation Iron Wall” in January and February. Hundreds of homes were demolished, and the displaced have been barred from returning. HRW documented over 850 structures destroyed or heavily damaged, while U.N. assessments reported 1,460 buildings affected.
The report describes Israeli forces storming homes, ransacking property, and ordering families out using loudspeakers mounted on drones. Residents were offered no shelter or aid, forcing them to crowd into relatives’ homes or seek refuge in schools, mosques, and charities.
Hisham Abu Tabeekh, expelled from Jenin, said his family could not take food, medicine, or possessions when forced to leave, calling life “very hard.”
The Israeli military said demolitions were necessary to prevent militants from using civilian infrastructure but did not provide a timeline for residents’ return.
International Law
The Geneva Conventions prohibit the forced displacement of civilians from occupied territories except temporarily for imperative military reasons. HRW said senior Israeli officials responsible should be prosecuted for war crimes and crimes against humanity. The group also described the expulsions as ethnic cleansing, a term used to denote unlawful removal of an ethnic or religious population.
Recent Violence in West Bank
The report noted a surge in West Bank violence since Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel in October 2023. Israeli forces have killed nearly 1,000 Palestinians, expanded detention without trial, demolished homes, and accelerated settlement building. Settler violence surged to 264 attacks in October, the highest monthly total since 2006, according to U.N. data.
Israel’s Position
Israel cites historical and biblical ties to the West Bank, which it captured in the 1967 war, and views settlements as strategic for security. Most of the international community considers the settlements illegal, but Israel rejects this, calling the territory “disputed” rather than “occupied.”
What HRW Wants
Human Rights Watch urged governments to impose targeted sanctions on Israeli officials, suspend arms sales and trade benefits, ban settlement goods, and enforce International Criminal Court warrants. The group emphasized that these measures are necessary to prevent further violations and ensure accountability.
With information from Reuters.
