Human Rights Watch accuses Israel of war crimes in West Bank expulsions

Israel’s expulsion of tens of thousands of Palestinians from three West Bank refugee camps in early 2025 amounts to war crimes and crimes against humanity, Human Rights Watch said on Nov 20, calling for urgent international measures to hold Israeli officials accountable and stop further abuses.

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The rights group said about 32,000 residents of Jenin, Tulkarm and Nur Shams camps were forcibly displaced by Israeli forces during “Operation Iron Wall” in January and February.

The displaced have been barred from returning, and hundreds of homes were demolished, said the group's 105-page report, titled All My Dreams Have Been Erased.

“Ten months after their displacement, none of the family residents have been able to go back to their homes,” said Ms Milena Ansari, a researcher for Human Rights Watch who worked on the report, speaking to Reuters on Nov 19.

The Israeli military said in a statement to Reuters on Nov 19 that it needed to demolish civilian infrastructure so that it could not be exploited by militants. It did not say when residents could return.

The Geneva Conventions prohibit displacement of civilians from occupied territory, except temporarily for imperative military reasons or their security.

Human Rights Watch said senior officials responsible should be prosecuted for war crimes and crimes against humanity.