Thu Apr 17 05:51:29 UTC 2025: ## Thousands of Palestinians Face Ongoing Displacement Crisis in West Bank
**Tulkarem, West Bank – April 17, 2025** – Over 40,000 Palestinians remain displaced in the West Bank following Israeli military operations in January and February, marking the largest displacement since the 1967 Six-Day War. This has created a severe humanitarian crisis, with thousands now facing eviction from temporary shelters as schools and community centers reclaim their spaces after the end of Ramadan.
The situation is particularly dire in the northern West Bank cities of Tulkarem and Jenin, where families, many of whom lost their homes during the operations, are being forced to relocate repeatedly. One 52-year-old woman, who requested anonymity for fear of reprisals, recounted being given only seven minutes to evacuate her home in Nur Shams camp. She described the harrowing experience of overcrowded shelters and the constant fear of further displacement.
The Palestinian Authority, struggling with limited resources, is attempting to address the crisis. Governor Abdallah Kmeil of Tulkarem stated that they are seeking empty homes for rent and plan to provide prefabricated containers for approximately 20,000 displaced individuals, although the timeline for their arrival remains unclear. The UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, is providing $265 per month to 30,000 of the most vulnerable displaced, but funding is only secured for three months. Further complicating the situation, many Palestinians are unemployed due to the ongoing conflict, hindering their ability to find alternative housing.
Aid organizations like Doctors Without Borders are struggling to meet the overwhelming needs, facing shortages of medicine and supplies due to Israeli restrictions and limited funding from the West Bank’s health ministry. The scale of the displacement has stretched the capacity of humanitarian aid to its limit, highlighting the urgent need for increased international assistance. While Israel maintains that its operations are necessary to combat militancy, the consequences for the Palestinian civilian population are severe and far-reaching. The long-term solution remains uncertain, with some Palestinians expressing reluctance to accept temporary housing, fearing it would compromise their right of return to their homes.
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