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JERUSALEM, 1 July 2025 — The northern West Bank is in the grip of a deepening humanitarian catastrophe. Five months after the Israeli military launched its devastating ‘Iron Wall’ campaign, over 40,000 Palestinians remain forcibly displaced, barred from returning to their homes, and stranded with little to no access to basic services, healthcare, or safety.
In what humanitarian workers are now calling a protracted siege, Israeli forces continue to occupy the refugee camps of Jenin, Tulkarem, and Nur Shams. Entire communities have been violently emptied, their homes burned, looted, or outright destroyed. Those who dare attempt to return face bullets, arrests, and threats. The result is a crisis not born of natural disaster, but of deliberate, systematic action — a man-made tragedy unfolding in plain sight.
“After five months, the military operation continues. The camps remain sealed off. Families are still in limbo.”
— Simona Onidi, MSF Project Coordinator, Jenin and Tulkarem
A Region Held Hostage
Doctors Without Borders / Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) — which has had a consistent field presence in the region — warns that the humanitarian toll is mounting at an alarming rate. In its latest advocacy briefing, Five Months Under Iron Wall, the organization lays bare the extent of the crisis.
Through nearly 300 interviews conducted in May across 17 different locations in the northern West Bank, MSF paints a picture of widespread suffering and despair:
Nearly half of the displaced have been uprooted three or more times in just four months.
73% are unsure if they will be able to stay where they are now.
1 in 3 report being unable to access a doctor when needed.
Nearly 50% lack consistent access to food and water.
Over 35% of patients with chronic illnesses cannot access their medications.
More than 100 cases of indiscriminate violence against returnees, including shootings, beatings, and arbitrary detentions, have been reported.
The psychological damage is equally harrowing, especially among women and children. The endless cycle of displacement, the looming threat of military violence, and the traumatic loss of homes and loved ones are leaving deep emotional scars.
“We live in a constant state of fear. My family keeps our bags packed, ready to flee at any moment.”
— Displaced woman, Nur Shams Refugee Camp
A Humanitarian Response Under Siege
In response to this escalating crisis, MSF has deployed mobile medical units to over 40 sites, offering primary healthcare, mental health support, and essential medications. But these efforts are far from sufficient in the face of such widespread displacement and denial of humanitarian access.
The camps — once densely populated centers of Palestinian life and culture — have been transformed into militarized zones. The Israeli military presence is ongoing, with no timeline for withdrawal. Civilians attempting to reclaim their homes are met with destruction or death.
“When I came back to my home in the camp, it had been burned down — and my neighbor had been killed.”
— Displaced man, Tulkarem Refugee Camp
A Crisis by Design
The Iron Wall operation, launched in early 2025, is only the latest chapter in a long and violent campaign against Palestinian communities in the West Bank. Since October 2023, the region has experienced unprecedented levels of military aggression, restrictions on movement, and systemic attacks on medical and humanitarian personnel.
MSF emphasizes that this crisis is not an unintended consequence of conflict — it is the product of deliberate, coercive measures designed to fragment and erase entire communities.
“What we’re seeing is not just a humanitarian emergency; it’s a man-made crisis, prolonged by design, and worsening by the day.”
— Simona Onidi, MSF
An Urgent Call to Action
MSF is now urging the international community, humanitarian organizations, and all stakeholders to confront the severity of the situation. There is an immediate need for:
Unfettered humanitarian access to provide medical care, food, water, and shelter.
Mental health support, especially for children and women.
International pressure to halt military operations and allow for safe, dignified returns of displaced communities.
Accountability for ongoing violations of international law and protection of civilians.
As the world watches Gaza, the silent suffering in the West Bank continues — less visible, but no less devastating. These 40,000 displaced Palestinians are not just statistics. They are mothers and fathers, children and elders, all caught in a brutal standoff where survival itself has become a daily struggle.
The Iron Wall stands not just as a physical barrier, but as a chilling symbol of oppression. Until it falls, tens of thousands remain trapped — exiled in their own homeland.
📄 Read MSF’s full advocacy briefing here:
“Five Months Under Iron Wall: The Human Toll of Prolonged Displacement & Territorial Fragmentation in the West Bank”
https://www.msf.org/five-months-under-iron-wall-human-toll-prolonged-displacement-west-bank
Additional context and links:
Jenin (Wikipedia): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jenin
Tulkarem (Wikipedia): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tulkarm
Nur Shams Refugee Camp (Wikipedia): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nur_Shams_Refugee_Camp
MSF Palestine operations: https://www.msf.org/palestine
Doctors Without Borders (Homepage): https://www.msf.org
Ross is known as the Pambansang Blogger ng Pilipinas - An Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Professional by profession and a Social Media Evangelist by heart.
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