UN reports widespread displacement of Palestinian children in West Bank

(MENAFN) More than 12,000 Palestinian children are living under “forced displacement” in the West Bank due to Israel’s ongoing military operations in the northern part of the occupied territory, according to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA).

The military campaign, which began on January 21, 2025, in the Jenin refugee camp, later spread to Nur Shams and Tulkarem camps. Israeli forces have imposed sieges on the three areas, causing widespread damage to homes, shops, and infrastructure, and displacing approximately 50,000 Palestinians, as reported by officials.

“More than 12,000 children remain forcibly displaced in the occupied West Bank,” UNRWA stated on social media. In response, the agency launched an emergency education program in February 2025 for displaced children.

The initiative provides learning through temporary classrooms, online teaching, self-learning materials, and psycho-social support for affected students. UNRWA noted that around 48,000 children are enrolled in its schools across the West Bank.

Since October 2023, Israeli forces and settlers have reportedly killed at least 1,105 Palestinians in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, injured nearly 11,000, and detained around 21,000, according to Palestinian authorities.

In a notable ruling last July, the International Court of Justice declared Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory illegal and called for the removal of all settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

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