The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) condemned Israel's ongoing large-scale military assault, "Operation Iron Wall," in the occupied West Bank, which has forcibly displaced 40,000 Palestinian refugees since January 21.

Now in its third week, the operation marks the longest and most destructive Israeli offensive in the West Bank since the second intifada, leaving a trail of devastation and despair in its wake.

UNRWA issued a dire warning, stating, "The forced displacement of Palestinian communities in the northern West Bank is escalating at an alarming pace." The operation, which began in Jenin refugee camp, has expanded to Tulkarem, Nur Shams, and El Fari’ah refugee camps, with Israeli forces systematically emptying these communities of their residents. "Jenin camp stands empty today, evoking memories of the second intifada. This scene stands to be repeated in other camps," UNRWA said, underscoring the catastrophic impact on Palestinian families.

The agency highlighted the "dangerous and coercive environment" created by Israel's use of air strikes, armored bulldozers, controlled detonations, and advanced weaponry—tactics that mirror the destructive strategies employed in Gaza. UNRWA described this as a "spillover of the war in Gaza," with Palestinian civilians bearing the brunt of Israel's escalating aggression.

The human toll of the operation has been devastating. On Sunday, Israeli forces expanded their assault to Nur Shams refugee camp in Tulkarem, opening fire on a Palestinian car leaving the camp. The attack killed a pregnant woman and her unborn child, while her husband, who was driving, was seriously wounded. Dozens of families were forcibly displaced during the raid, adding to the growing number of refugees uprooted from their homes.

Last week, Israeli forces detonated at least 20 apartment buildings in Jenin refugee camp, one of the largest single demolitions in the West Bank in years. Local residents and media sources compared the destruction to Israel's "fire belt" strategy in Gaza, which involves the deliberate and concentrated bombardment of residential blocks, erasing entire neighborhoods. The Israeli army has also extended its aggression to the northern Jordan Valley, sealing off the town of Tamun and forcibly displacing its residents, further deepening the humanitarian crisis.

UNRWA noted that the Palestinian Authority's security operation in Jenin refugee camp, which preceded Israel's offensive, had already contributed to displacement in the area. However, Israel's escalation has intensified the suffering, with the army accused of killing and kidnapping Palestinian civilians, targeting civilian infrastructure, and creating an atmosphere of terror in northern West Bank refugee camps. The operation has been marked by widespread violations of international humanitarian law, with Palestinian families left homeless and communities shattered. (ILKHA)