Israel Expands West Bank Demolitions, Displacing Thousands
Jenin, West Bank | May 3, 2025
Israel’s intensified military campaign in the occupied West Bank has led to the demolition of over 260 buildings, rendering more than 42,000 Palestinians homeless, according to the UN’s relief agency UNRWA.
The demolitions, part of “Operation Iron Wall,” target refugee camps believed to harbor militants, notably Jenin, Tulkarem, and Nur Shams. Explosions, gunfire, and drone activity have become routine as Israeli forces continue blockading the areas.
Personal Loss Amid the Rubble
Jumaa Zawayda, a 66-year-old resident of Jenin camp, stayed behind when Israeli forces ordered evacuations in January. He hoped to protect his property, but after three days without power or communication, he fled.
Now living in temporary student housing, Jumaa recently discovered via satellite imagery that his home was among those destroyed.
“I saved my ID card and my dog. I worked for 50 years to build that home,” he told the BBC.
He insists on returning:
“If they don’t let me rebuild, I’ll pitch a tent where my house once stood.”
Camp Access Severed, Information Scarce
Israel has blocked access to the refugee camps and declined to publicly confirm which homes were destroyed. A analysis of Israeli maps and satellite images confirmed the destruction of at least 33 named structures in Jenin by late March. New roads have also appeared where homes once stood.
On May 1, Israeli officials handed Palestinian authorities a list of 106 additional buildings slated for demolition in Tulkarem and Nur Shams within 24 hours.
The Israeli Defense Ministry argues the demolitions are vital to dismantling militant infrastructure, stating that groups like Hamas and Islamic Jihad use civilian areas to plant explosives and shield fighters.
UN: Largest Displacement Since 1967
UNRWA’s West Bank director Roland Friedrich says this is the largest forced displacement in the region since Israel’s occupation began in 1967.
“We’ve never seen this level of destruction and scale of displaced people before,” he said.
The Israeli army claims to have killed 60 militants and arrested 280 since January. In contrast, Palestinian health officials report over 100 deaths in the West Bank during the same period.
A City Turned Unliveable
Jenin Mayor Mohammad Jarrar told the BBC that essential infrastructure has been destroyed.
“Israel’s goal is to make Jenin camp uninhabitable. And sadly, it’s now unliveable.”
Even municipal workers trying to clear paths to hospitals have been detained, delaying aid efforts.
Humanitarian agencies warn that unless restrictions ease and reconstruction begins, the crisis will deepen, and displaced families like Jumaa’s may face another generation of statelessness.
