Israel emptying West Bank refugee camps could be crime against humanity: UN
At the start of Operation Iron Wall, Israeli military, police and other forces entered the camps and killed civilians, destroyed hundreds of homes and damaged infrastructure, according to the UN rights office.
The United Nations has warned that Israel's forced displacement of over 33,000 Palestinian refugees from three West Bank camps could constitute a crime against humanity. In Operation Iron Wall, Israeli military and police entered the camps in January 2025, killing civilians, destroying homes, and damaging infrastructure. They cut off water, electricity, and humanitarian access, then forcibly displaced the entire population through door-to-door orders.
As of July 2025, 33,362 displaced Palestinians had not been allowed to return. The UN's rights office stated that Israel's use of airstrikes, armored bulldozers, and controlled detonations to render the camps uninhabitable and prevent their return violate international law, and amount to collective punishment and ethnic cleansing.
Israel's mission in Geneva dismissed the report as activist and accused it of spreading misinformation. The West Bank, occupied by Israel since 1967, has seen increased violence since the start of the Gaza Strip war in October 2023.
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