Ramallah: More than 12,000 Palestinian children are living in a state of 'forced displacement' in the West Bank, driven by Israel's ongoing military operation in the northern part of the occupied territory, according to a statement from the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA).
According to Anadolu Agency, the Israeli army has been conducting a military campaign in the northern West Bank since January 21, 2025. This operation began in the Jenin refugee camp and subsequently extended to the Nur Shams and Tulkarem camps. The Israeli forces have imposed a siege on these camps, leading to significant destruction of infrastructure, homes, and shops, which has resulted in the displacement of approximately 50,000 Palestinians, based on official figures.
The UNRWA highlighted that more than 12,000 children remain forcibly displaced within the occupied West Bank. In response to this situation, the agency launched an emergency education program for these displaced children in February 2025. This program includes the provision of education through temporary learning spaces, online teaching, distribution of self-learning materials, and psycho-social support for the affected students. Currently, 48,000 children are enrolled in UNRWA schools across the West Bank.
Palestinian figures indicate that Israeli forces and illegal settlers have been responsible for at least 1,105 Palestinian deaths in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, with nearly 11,000 injured and around 21,000 detained since October 2023. In a notable decision last July, the International Court of Justice declared Israel's occupation of Palestinian territory illegal and called for the evacuation of all settlements in both the West Bank and East Jerusalem.