FAR’A REFUGEE CAMP, West Bank — In recent weeks, tens of thousands of Palestinians have been forced to evacuate their homes amid intensified Israeli military operations in the northern West Bank. This wave of displacement marks the largest since the 1967 Middle East war, with families leaving in droves, both by car and on foot, navigating through muddy olive fields and treacherous areas under potential sniper fire.
Following a large-scale crackdown on West Bank militants that began on January 21, just after reaching a ceasefire agreement with Hamas in Gaza, Israeli forces targeted the troubled city of Jenin. However, this time the military escalated its operations, launching a more aggressive approach into surrounding towns—Tulkarem, Far’a, and Nur Shams—causing families to scatter and evoking painful memories from the 1948 war that led many to abandon their homes.
During the 1948 conflict, approximately 700,000 Palestinians were displaced, an event termed Nakba (“catastrophe”) by Palestinians. This historical context intensifies the current anxiety as areas now known as refugee camps experience renewed violence.
“This is our nakba,” recounted Abed Sabagh, who fled with his seven children from Nur Shams camp, a place he held deep personal ties to since his parents were also displaced during the 1948 war.
Humanitarian officials emphasize that the level of displacement now resembles the conditions witnessed during the 1967 war when an additional 300,000 Palestinians were uprooted. The United Nations Palestinian refugee agency reports that over 40,100 Palestinians have sought refuge away from their homes due to ongoing military actions.
Experts reveal that Israeli tactics utilized in the West Bank are closely mirroring those seen in Gaza. With encouragement from previous U.S. administrations, particularly under Donald Trump, calls for the mass relocation of Palestinians have gained traction among Israel’s far-right factions, leading to a renewed emphasis on annexation efforts in the West Bank.
As Israeli forces continue their operations, they deny having issued any formal evacuation commands, stating they are merely facilitating safe exits for those choosing to leave.
Firsthand accounts from displaced individuals indicate that many left their homes not solely out of fear but due to directives from Israeli security personnel. Reports from the Nur Shams camp included soldiers using mosque loudspeakers to order residents to vacate. While some families recounted polite interactions, others described aggressive behavior from soldiers searching through their belongings and forcing them out without sufficient time to gather their possessions.
