Largest forced displacement in the West Bank since 1967; amidst increased violence and severely hampered humanitarian work

• At least 800 Israeli military checkpoints, barriers and gates are causing unprecedented obstacles to movement; two-hour journeys now take twelve, hampering humanitarian work.
• Largest forced displacement in the West Bank since 1967 amid concerns that there will be no right of return.

Oxfam staff preparing to distribute hygiene kits in Gaza City. Photo: Jomana Khalili/Oxfam

A dramatic increase in violence by the Israeli military has caused the largest forced displacement in the West Bank since the Israeli occupation began. Oxfam is warning today that vital humanitarian work is being delayed or destroyed.

More than 40,000 people have been displaced since the temporary ceasefire in Gaza came into force on January 19. This is the highest number since Israel occupied the Palestinian territory, including the West Bank, in 1967. The recent Israeli military offensive in the West Bank has particularly affected the north, with an attack in Jenin just two days after the Gaza ceasefire began, now spreading to the Tulkarem, Nur Shams and El Far'a refugee camps.

Palestinian communities in the West Bank are now experiencing multiple traumas including death and arbitrary detention, severely restricted mobility, access to jobs and education, and mass demolition of homes and infrastructure.

"The situation was never as bad as it is now. There used to be occasional attacks by the Israeli army, but nothing like this. Closures and checkpoints make aid deliveries almost impossible. A journey that should take two hours now takes twelve."

Suhair Farraj, Director of Oxfam's partner Women Media and Development.

"In the last month since the ceasefire, the Israeli escalation of violence and destruction in the West Bank is unprecedented. The Israeli government is creating this destruction with complete impunity while supporting illegal Israeli settlers attacking Palestinian communities."

Mustafa Tamaizeh, Development Manager Economic Justice and responsible for Oxfam's work in the West Bank.

"Indeed, we are now seeing accelerated annexation policies and regulations that make it increasingly difficult and dangerous for Oxfam and other organizations to deliver the desperately needed humanitarian response and to reach communities. The urgent needs are further exacerbated by the massive forced displacement of so many people."

Mustafa Tamaizeh, Development Manager Economic Justice and responsible for Oxfam's work in the West Bank.

"Our staff and partners have reported being denied access or threatened at military checkpoints and blocked from delivering emergency aid. Such restrictions have slowed humanitarian efforts and increased operational costs."

Mustafa Tamaizeh, Development Manager Economic Justice and responsible for Oxfam's work in the West Bank.

Since January 21, 51 Palestinians, including seven children, and three Israeli soldiers have been killed in the West Bank. In the Jenin refugee camp, which is now largely empty, reports from Oxfam partners have indicated that Israeli forces have widened roads and installed street signs in Hebrew in deserted areas. On January 21, Israeli military killed at least 12 Palestinians in Jenin refugee camp, and over 20,000 people had to flee.

With attacks by illegal Israeli settlers on the rise, vital humanitarian efforts by Oxfam, its partners and other humanitarian organizations are being delayed. Attacks by the Israeli military have caused severe damage to water and sanitation infrastructure, making access to water difficult for tens of thousands of people, leading to growing public health concerns. Agriculture has come to a standstill.

"Since the Gaza ceasefire, Israel has prevented farmers from accessing their land in the West Bank, making their lives almost impossible. This month alone, the Israeli army has ordered the takeover of 1,000 acres of land in the occupied West Bank, emptying the land of farmers to facilitate annexation and settlement expansion."

Abbas Milhem, Director of Oxfam partner Palestinian Farmers Union.

Oxfam teams and partners have reported that many rural areas are completely shut down, cutting off their access to humanitarian aid. East Jerusalem is currently closed to Palestinians in the West Bank, as Israel has banned access beyond the restrictions that have been in place for decades.

"What we are witnessing is a calculated strategy of annexation. Overnight, inter-city mobility has been paralyzed, increasing economic and social pressure on already vulnerable communities. Violations of human rights and international law are taking place openly and with impunity, while the international community looks on, complicit in its silence."

Mustafa Tamaizeh, Development Manager Economic Justice and responsible for Oxfam's work in the West Bank.

"As one of our partners described it to me, we are now witnessing the same scenes we used to see in Gaza, Rafah and Deir Al-Balah on TV. We are seeing the 'Gazaization' of the West Bank."

Mustafa Tamaizeh, Development Manager Economic Justice and responsible for Oxfam's work in the West Bank.

"The international community must not turn a blind eye while this historic displacement, dehumanization and destruction takes place in the West Bank. For too long, Israel's illegal occupation, oppression and countless gross violations of International Humanitarian Law in Palestine have continued without consequence. Urgent action is needed to end Israeli impunity and allow humanitarian organizations access to support Palestinians to recover and rebuild communities from violence, so they can live in self-determination and dignity, free from occupation."

Mustafa Tamaizeh, Development Manager Economic Justice and responsible for Oxfam's work in the West Bank.

Background:

• According to the UN, the latest Israeli military operation in the West Bank has displaced 40,000 Palestinians. Source: UN News, February 10, 2025.

• The death toll in the West Bank is based on the latest UN agency OCHA report of February 20, 2025.

• Figures on the number of gates, barriers and checkpoints have been taken from OCHA. From the total, 20 new gates were installed at the entrance to towns along with new road barriers, earth mounds and trench fences.

• According to the BADIL Resource Center, approximately 400,000 Palestinians were displaced during the Second Arab-Israeli War in June 1967. Half of these were refugees displaced from the part of Palestine that became Israel during the 1948 war.

• Israel's annexation policies include the expansion of settlements, confiscation of land, demolition of Palestinian homes, forced displacement of Palestinian civilians, and the transfer of administrative power from military to civilian authorities. The Israeli legal organization Yesh Din documents bills and laws with annexation elements. Source: (2025), Yesh Din Annexation Legislation Database.

• In our reporting, the term "accelerated annexation policies and regulations" is used to describe the rapid and systematic implementation of these policies based on evidence and analysis on the ground. It reflects Oxfam's assessment of actions that appear to fast-track processes leading to de facto annexation, a behavior widely regarded as in violation of international law.

• In February, the Israeli army released two orders to confiscate more than 10,000 dunums (1,000 hectares) of land in the occupied West Bank. Referring to this as a "temporary military decision", the military has targeted 8,734 dunums in the Tubas areas and 2,394 dunums in several villages east of Ramallah.

• Oxfam and partners have provided people in the West Bank with water, food parcels, essential repair kits, hygiene kits, blankets, tents, mattresses and emergency cash assistance. Together, we have installed protective infrastructure in homes and schools, and provided traumatized women and children with psychosocial support.

• Since the ceasefire in Gaza on January 19, 2025, it has been extremely difficult for Oxfam and its partners to carry out their humanitarian work. Restrictions on mobility have resulted in increased operational costs, delays in aid deliveries, loss of perishables and increased security risks for our staff. Increased restrictions on travel between Areas A, B and C have made it impossible to reach our project sites and offices. Partners have reported that support has been denied dozens of times at checkpoints, that support deliveries are delayed for several hours, or blocked altogether, and that staff safety is threatened.