Thousands of displaced persons without a home in a collapsing city

More than 33,000 Palestinian refugees have been displaced from the Tulkarm and Nur Shams camps in the northern West Bank since January 2025, following the IDF's "Iron Wall" operation. Families are living in makeshift structures on agricultural land, without shelter. According to the UN, 48% of buildings in Nur Shams and 36% in Tulkarm have been destroyed. The Association for Civil Rights petitioned the High Court of Justice demanding a return, but the military claims the residents left voluntarily.

More than 33,000 Palestinian refugees have been displaced from the Tulkarm and Nur Shams refugee camps in the northern West Bank since January 2025, following the IDF's "Iron Wall" operation and an enforcement operation by the Palestinian Authority. Families are living in makeshift structures of tin and boards on agricultural land east of Tulkarm, cooking over campfires and sleeping under the open sky. According to UN data, 48% of buildings in Nur Shams and 36% in Tulkarm have been destroyed or severely damaged. The military has issued demolition orders for 514 buildings. Local leaders and human rights organizations define this as "space engineering" and systematic forced displacement. The Association for Civil Rights petitioned the High Court of Justice demanding a return, but the military claims the residents left voluntarily. Tulkarm's economy has collapsed: commercial activity has dropped by 75%, unemployment has soared to 37.4%, and 23,000 workers have lost their work permits in Israel. The article presents harsh testimonies from residents who lost their homes and documents, and describes concerns about Israeli use of intelligence and funds to map armed groups.