Israeli demolition will further entrengh displavement of Palestinians

Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA Commissioner-General

Yesterday (May 1) the Israeli Security Forces issued two new demolition orders, which would see 106 houses across Tulkarm and Nur Shams camps destroyed. These demolition orders, if enacted, would further entrench the displacement of thousands of Palestine Refugees in the northern West Bank.

Since 2023, Israeli Security Forces have forcibly displaced most residents of Tulkarm and Nur Shams camps, by directly evicting them or by demolishing houses and camp infrastructure, making living conditions so unbearable that residents cannot remain.

The situation has dramatically escalated since the beginning of operation ‘Iron Wall’, which started in Tulkarm on 27 January 2025 – a week after it was launched in Jenin.

These orders continue a trend of mass demolitions conducted by the Israeli Security Forces in northern West Bank camps. They serve punitive and coercive objectives, targeting entire communities.

This practice constitutes collective punishment, categorically prohibited under the Fourth Geneva Convention.

By targeting civilian homes absent of immediate military necessity, the actions of the Israeli Security Forces bring about more than just physical destruction: they inflict lasting trauma and psychological harm. They perpetuate economic hardship. Families lose not only shelter but also their sense of dignity and safety.

These demolitions seek to alter the character of the camps and permanently shatter their social fabric.

Whilst the erasure of buildings or even entire camps will not eradicate the status of Palestine Refugees it will prolong the occupation and obstruct the path to a just solution.

These demolitions must stop, and those displaced be allowed to return to their homes unhindered and without delay.