Image Credit: Al Jazeera
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has reported a significant escalation in displacement and infrastructure damage in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, since October 7. According to OCHA, the number of Palestinians displaced in this region has more than doubled in the past 10 months compared to the preceding period.
As of the latest update, approximately 3,070 Palestinians have been forced from their homes due to a combination of demolitions, Israeli settler violence, and land confiscations. This marks a sharp increase from the 1,252 displaced in the prior 10 months. OCHA further detailed that since October 7, around 181,000 individuals in the West Bank have been impacted by demolitions, the destruction of essential infrastructure such as roads and water facilities, and other forms of public facility damage, largely as a result of Israeli military operations in Tulkarem and Jenin.
The current situation in the West Bank follows a broader context of escalating violence. Reports indicate that Israel’s conflict with Gaza has resulted in substantial casualties, with at least 39,677 people reported killed and 91,645 injured. Additionally, the Hamas-led attacks on October 7 alone led to approximately 1,139 fatalities in Israel, with over 200 individuals taken captive.
These developments underscore a critical humanitarian crisis in the region, with significant implications for both immediate relief efforts and long-term resolution strategies.