The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) expresses alarm at the escalating violence in the occupied West Bank, which has intensified following the fragile ceasefire in Gaza. Israeli military operations and a surge in settler attacks have heightened insecurity, displacement, and severe restrictions on Palestinian freedom of movement. NRC urgently calls for measures to protect Palestinian civilians and ensure unimpeded humanitarian assistance.
The Israeli military operation 'Iron Wall’, launched on Tuesday in the Jenin refugee camp and its surrounding area, has already resulted in significant humanitarian consequences, with airstrikes and ground incursions causing civilian casualties and widespread destruction. At least 12 Palestinians have been killed and 40 injured, including medical personnel, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.
“We are seeing disturbing patterns of unlawful use of force in the West Bank that is unnecessary, indiscriminate and disproportionate. This echoes the tactics Israeli forces have employed in Gaza,” said Angelita Caredda, NRC’s Middle East and North Africa regional director. “Under international law, Israel must bring its occupation of Palestinian territory to an end as rapidly as possible. Until then, it must fully comply with its obligations as an occupying power, including the protection of civilians."
In addition, Israeli forces have increased checkpoints, roadblocks, and other physical barriers throughout the West Bank, including in East Jerusalem. These measures further fragment Palestinian communities, restrict access to essential services and prevent humanitarian agencies, like NRC, from reaching the communities we serve.
The escalation coincides with the Palestinian Authority’s efforts to reassert control in Jenin, targeting armed groups. Israeli military and Palestinian authority operations have resulted in extensive damage to critical infrastructure, severe movement restrictions, and disruptions to essential services. As of 15 January, 75 per cent of Jenin’s 13,400 residents have been displaced, deepening an already dire humanitarian crisis.
This violence in the West Bank reflects a broader trend. In 2023, Israel resumed airstrikes in the West Bank for the first time since the Second Intifada. By 2024, it had carried out 152 airstrikes, 82 of them in densely populated refugee camps.
The latest surge follows a deadly 2024, during which Israeli forces and settlers killed 499 Palestinians in the West Bank. Israeli demolitions reached a record high, with 1,768 structures destroyed—50 per cent more than in 2023. A quarter of these demolitions occurred during military operations, primarily in northern refugee camps.
Settler violence also reached unprecedented levels in 2024, with 1,420 incidents causing casualties or property damage—a 16 per cent increase from the previous year. Five Palestinians were killed, and over 300 families were forcibly displaced as settlers attacked under the protection of Israeli forces.
“Impunity for serious violations of international law has allowed Israel to unlawfully escalate violence in the occupied West Bank,” said Caredda. “The international community must take decisive action to stop these violations and end the occupation.”
Notes to Editors:
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Israeli forces and settlers have killed at least 32 Palestinians in the West Bank between 1 January and 22 January 2025. Of these, at least 13 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank since the temporary ceasefire took effect in Gaza on 19 January. (Palestinian Ministry of Health)
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At least nine Palestinians have been killed and 35 injured, including medical personnel, since Israel launched Operation Iron Wall on 21 January. (Palestinian Ministry of Health)
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In 2024, Israeli forces and settlers killed 499 Palestinians in the West Bank. In 2023, they killed 504 Palestinians in the West Bank. (OCHA)
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As of 15 January, 2,000 families comprising 10,000 of the 13,400 Palestinian residents of Jenin refugee camp had been displaced due to repeated Israeli incursions and the Palestinian operation. (OCHA)
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In 2024, Israel conducted 115 air strikes across the West Bank, including 59 inside refugee camps. In 2023, Israel conducted 37 air strikes across the West Bank, including 23 inside refugee camps. (UN)
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In 2024, Israel demolished 1,768 Palestinian structures, including 92 donor-funded ones, displacing 4,256 Palestinians and affecting 165,025 others. Of these, 452 structures were demolished during Israeli military operations. (OCHA)
-
In 2023, Israel demolished 1,178 Palestinian structures, displacing 2,300 Palestinians and affecting 439,869 others. Of these, 229 structures were demolished during Israeli military operations. (OCHA)
-
In 2024, the UN documented 1,420 incidents of settler violence resulting in casualties and/or property damage in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Israeli settlers killed five Palestinians. This represents the highest number of incidents since the UN began tracking them in 2006. Settler violence and intimidation led to the forcible displacement of more than 300 Palestinian families, comprising 1,762 people, including 856 children. (OCHA)
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In 2023, the UN documented 1,227 incidents of settler violence resulting in Palestinian casualties and/or property damage in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. (OCHA)
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Israel's use of force in the West Bank, recently characterized in an official Israeli report—the Nagel Commission, established in August 2024 to assess Israel's defense needs and budget—as "disproportionate as possible and continuously unrelenting," constitutes a serious violation of core principles of international humanitarian law. (Nagel Commission)
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In situations of disturbances and tensions that do not amount to hostilities, the occupying power is permitted to use force to restore public order strictly in accordance with law enforcement standards, which are governed by the principles of necessity, proportionality, and precaution, as derived from international human rights law.
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In July 2024, the International Court of Justice, in an advisory opinion, ruled that Israel's presence in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) is unlawful. The Court stated that states “are under an obligation not to recognise as legal the situation arising from the unlawful presence of Israel in the occupied Palestinian territory. They are also under an obligation not to render aid or assistance in maintaining the situation created by Israel’s illegal presence in the occupied Palestinian territory.” (International Court of Justice)
For information or to arrange an interview, please contact:
-
NRC's global media hotline: media@nrc.no, +47 905 62 329
-
Ahmed Bayram, Middle East and North Africa regional media adviser: ahmed.bayram@nrc.no, +962 790 160 147
The Israeli military operation 'Iron Wall’, launched on Tuesday in the Jenin refugee camp and its surrounding area, has already resulted in significant humanitarian consequences, with airstrikes and ground incursions causing civilian casualties and widespread destruction. At least 12 Palestinians have been killed and 40 injured, including medical personnel, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.
“We are seeing disturbing patterns of unlawful use of force in the West Bank that is unnecessary, indiscriminate and disproportionate. This echoes the tactics Israeli forces have employed in Gaza,” said Angelita Caredda, NRC’s Middle East and North Africa regional director. “Under international law, Israel must bring its occupation of Palestinian territory to an end as rapidly as possible. Until then, it must fully comply with its obligations as an occupying power, including the protection of civilians."
In addition, Israeli forces have increased checkpoints, roadblocks, and other physical barriers throughout the West Bank, including in East Jerusalem. These measures further fragment Palestinian communities, restrict access to essential services and prevent humanitarian agencies, like NRC, from reaching the communities we serve.
The escalation coincides with the Palestinian Authority’s efforts to reassert control in Jenin, targeting armed groups. Israeli military and Palestinian authority operations have resulted in extensive damage to critical infrastructure, severe movement restrictions, and disruptions to essential services. As of 15 January, 75 per cent of Jenin’s 13,400 residents have been displaced, deepening an already dire humanitarian crisis.
This violence in the West Bank reflects a broader trend. In 2023, Israel resumed airstrikes in the West Bank for the first time since the Second Intifada. By 2024, it had carried out 152 airstrikes, 82 of them in densely populated refugee camps.
The latest surge follows a deadly 2024, during which Israeli forces and settlers killed 499 Palestinians in the West Bank. Israeli demolitions reached a record high, with 1,768 structures destroyed—50 per cent more than in 2023. A quarter of these demolitions occurred during military operations, primarily in northern refugee camps.
Settler violence also reached unprecedented levels in 2024, with 1,420 incidents causing casualties or property damage—a 16 per cent increase from the previous year. Five Palestinians were killed, and over 300 families were forcibly displaced as settlers attacked under the protection of Israeli forces.
“Impunity for serious violations of international law has allowed Israel to unlawfully escalate violence in the occupied West Bank,” said Caredda. “The international community must take decisive action to stop these violations and end the occupation.”
Notes to Editors:
-
Israeli forces and settlers have killed at least 32 Palestinians in the West Bank between 1 January and 22 January 2025. Of these, at least 13 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank since the temporary ceasefire took effect in Gaza on 19 January. (Palestinian Ministry of Health)
-
At least nine Palestinians have been killed and 35 injured, including medical personnel, since Israel launched Operation Iron Wall on 21 January. (Palestinian Ministry of Health)
-
In 2024, Israeli forces and settlers killed 499 Palestinians in the West Bank. In 2023, they killed 504 Palestinians in the West Bank. (OCHA)
-
As of 15 January, 2,000 families comprising 10,000 of the 13,400 Palestinian residents of Jenin refugee camp had been displaced due to repeated Israeli incursions and the Palestinian operation. (OCHA)
-
In 2024, Israel conducted 115 air strikes across the West Bank, including 59 inside refugee camps. In 2023, Israel conducted 37 air strikes across the West Bank, including 23 inside refugee camps. (UN)
-
In 2024, Israel demolished 1,768 Palestinian structures, including 92 donor-funded ones, displacing 4,256 Palestinians and affecting 165,025 others. Of these, 452 structures were demolished during Israeli military operations. (OCHA)
-
In 2023, Israel demolished 1,178 Palestinian structures, displacing 2,300 Palestinians and affecting 439,869 others. Of these, 229 structures were demolished during Israeli military operations. (OCHA)
-
In 2024, the UN documented 1,420 incidents of settler violence resulting in casualties and/or property damage in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Israeli settlers killed five Palestinians. This represents the highest number of incidents since the UN began tracking them in 2006. Settler violence and intimidation led to the forcible displacement of more than 300 Palestinian families, comprising 1,762 people, including 856 children. (OCHA)
-
In 2023, the UN documented 1,227 incidents of settler violence resulting in Palestinian casualties and/or property damage in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. (OCHA)
-
Israel's use of force in the West Bank, recently characterized in an official Israeli report—the Nagel Commission, established in August 2024 to assess Israel's defense needs and budget—as "disproportionate as possible and continuously unrelenting," constitutes a serious violation of core principles of international humanitarian law. (Nagel Commission)
-
In situations of disturbances and tensions that do not amount to hostilities, the occupying power is permitted to use force to restore public order strictly in accordance with law enforcement standards, which are governed by the principles of necessity, proportionality, and precaution, as derived from international human rights law.
-
In July 2024, the International Court of Justice, in an advisory opinion, ruled that Israel's presence in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) is unlawful. The Court stated that states “are under an obligation not to recognise as legal the situation arising from the unlawful presence of Israel in the occupied Palestinian territory. They are also under an obligation not to render aid or assistance in maintaining the situation created by Israel’s illegal presence in the occupied Palestinian territory.” (International Court of Justice)
For information or to arrange an interview, please contact:
-
NRC's global media hotline: media@nrc.no, +47 905 62 329
-
Ahmed Bayram, Middle East and North Africa regional media adviser: ahmed.bayram@nrc.no, +962 790 160 147