Watan-On Monday, Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières) condemned the “extremely critical” situation of displaced Palestinians in the occupied West Bank due to the ongoing Israeli military operation since January.
The United Nations has indicated that approximately 40,000 people have been displaced since January 21, when Israel launched Operation “Iron Wall”, claiming it targets Palestinian armed groups in the northern West Bank.
Israel has occupied the West Bank—home to around three million Palestinians—since 1967. About half a million Israeli settlers also live there in settlements considered illegal under international law.
MSF: Displaced Palestinians Face Dire Conditions After Israeli Offensive
The Israeli operation began two days after a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas came into effect in Gaza, following over 15 months of war there.
According to Doctors Without Borders, Palestinians are “living without proper shelter, without basic services, and without access to healthcare.”
The organization also stressed that the psychological condition of the displaced is “deeply concerning.”
In a statement, the Israeli army said its forces are operating “against all terrorist organizations, including Hamas, within a complex security environment.”
The statement added: “The army is committed to international law and takes necessary precautions to minimize harm to uninvolved individuals.”
MSF: West Bank Camp Destruction Unmatched in Decades
Doctors Without Borders said the scale of forced displacement and destruction of camps in the West Bank is unprecedented in decades.
Brice de le Vingne, the organization’s Director of Operations, stated: “People cannot return to their homes because Israeli forces have blocked access to the camps and destroyed homes and infrastructure.”
The organization affirmed: “Israel must stop this, and the humanitarian response must be intensified.”
The military operation has mainly targeted Tulkarm Camp, Nur Shams Camp in the city of Tulkarm, and Jenin Camp in the city of Jenin.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said in February that the operation will continue for several months.
He added that he instructed soldiers to “prepare to stay in the evacuated camps throughout the year and not allow residents to return or terrorism to re-emerge.”
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