• Human Rights Watch accuses Israel of war crimes over forced displacement of 32,000 Palestinians from West Bank refugee camps.
• The report details systematic demolitions of civilian homes during military operations in Jenin, Tulkarm, and Nur Shams.
• HRW urges international action against Israeli officials, citing violations of international law.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) recently unveiled a damning report accusing Israel of committing war crimes in its mass expulsion of Palestinians from three refugee camps in the West Bank, specifically Jenin, Tulkam, and Nur Shams. The exposé, entitled "All My Dreams Have Been Erased," highlights that approximately 32,000 residents were forcibly displaced during military operations named "Operation Iron Wall" at the beginning of 2025. HRW has called for urgent international measures to hold Israeli officials accountable and prevent further abuses, emphasizing that more than 850 structures were destroyed or heavily damaged even before residents were allowed to return, as reported by Reuters and The Jakarta Post.

The HRW report relies on interviews with 31 displaced Palestinians and various forms of evidence, including satellite imagery and confirmed videos of the destruction. Nadia Hardman, a senior researcher for HRW, stated, "With global attention focused on Gaza, Israeli forces have carried out war crimes, crimes against humanity, and ethnic cleansing in the West Bank that should be investigated and prosecuted," emphasizing the gravity of this situation. The rights group found that since the onset of military operations, Israeli authorities have denied residents the right to return and have actively fired upon those attempting to do so, according to Middle East Eye and Al Jazeera.

The Israeli military, in defense of its actions, has stated that the operations targeted terrorist elements and claimed that the demolitions were necessary for military efficacy. However, HRW contends that such justifications do not legitimize the wholesale expulsion of civilians, arguing that the Geneva Conventions explicitly prohibit such actions unless for imperative military reasons. Hardman criticized Israel's inaction, noting, "The military has bulldozed, razed, and cleared spaces to create wider access routes inside the camps," further suggesting that Israel’s actions constitute severe violations of international law, according to The Jakarta Post and Middle East Eye.

As violence escalated in the region, with nearly 1,000 Palestinians killed in the West Bank and increased settler violence reported, the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate. Rights groups, including HRW, have called for international action against prominent Israeli figures, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, urging sanctions and legal repercussions for those perpetuating these alleged war crimes. HRW has furthermore framed the expulsions as part of a broader pattern of ethnic cleansing that seeks to alter the demographic makeup of the region, as highlighted by Reuters, Al Jazeera, and Middle East Eye.