A weekslong Israeli military operation in the northern West Bank has forced around 40,000 Palestinians to flee their homes, marking the largest displacement in the region since the 1967 Arab-Israeli war, according to experts.
While approximately 3,000 people have returned, most remain homeless after more than three weeks, with many having no home to return to. The Israeli military has demolished numerous buildings, torn up roads, and destroyed water pipes and power lines, claiming the operations were necessary to eliminate booby traps set by militants.
Israel asserts the military action is aimed at suppressing rising militancy, targeting gunmen accused of terrorist attacks against Israeli civilians. However, many Palestinians fear this is part of a broader effort to permanently displace residents and tighten control over Palestinian Authority-administered areas.
Historical Context:
Many of the displaced are descendants of refugees who were forced from their homes during the 1948 war—a period known as the Nakba in Arabic. This new wave of displacement has revived painful memories of what is considered a central trauma in Palestinian history.
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