Human Rights Watch declared Israel’s campaign of forced displacement of Palestinians from the West Bank a crime against humanity.
“The Israeli government’s forced displacement of the populations of three West Bank refugee camps in January and February 2025 amounts to war crimes and crimes against humanity,” a HRW report released on Thursday explained. “The 32,000 people reportedly removed have not been permitted to return to their homes, many of which Israel forces have deliberately demolished.”
Following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack, Israel stepped up its military raids and attacks in the West Bank. While most of the attention has been on the genocide in Gaza, Israel has killed over 1,000 Palestinians in the West Bank.
“With global attention focused on Gaza, Israeli forces have carried out war crimes, crimes against humanity, and ethnic cleansing in the West Bank that should be investigated and prosecuted,” senior HRW researcher Nadia Hardman said.
HWR reported that in three Palestinian refugee camps, the displacement was coupled with widespread destruction. At least 850 homes have been destroyed in the Jenin, Tulkarem, and Nur Shams camps.
Many top Israeli officials have called on the IDF to repeat the destruction of Gaza in the West Bank. HRW said several Israeli officials were guilty of ordering the war crimes, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
