Key facts
- Israeli forces are increasingly using Palestinian homes in the occupied West Bank as military outposts.
- This practice has intensified since October 2023, coinciding with escalating Israeli actions in the territory.
- Residents like Mohammed Rahal and Fidaa Abu al-Haija have been forced from their homes, with fears of permanent seizure.
- A large-scale Israeli offensive in early 2025 devastated Jenin refugee camp, displacing thousands.
- Human rights groups have accused Israel of war crimes and ethnic cleansing in the West Bank.
Israeli forces have intensified the practice of using Palestinian homes in the occupied West Bank as military outposts, a tactic that has become increasingly common since October 2023. Residents are facing repeated displacement and the fear of permanent seizure of their properties.
Mohammed Rahal, a father of five, was forced from his home in the Jenin refugee camp, only to be ordered out of a new house he had prepared for his family to be used as a military position for two months. This practice has escalated alongside Israel's crackdown across the territory, particularly after a large-scale offensive in early 2025 that devastated refugee camps in the northern West Bank, displacing nearly 40,000 Palestinians.
Human rights groups and experts have accused Israel of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and ethnic cleansing in its West Bank operations. Rahal and his family, like many others, experienced significant hardship and overcrowding during their 14-month displacement before attempting to rebuild their lives.
Similar orders have been issued to other residents, including Fidaa Abu al-Haija, fueling fears that the military presence is intended to be long-term and could lead to permanent confiscation of land and homes. The strategic location of neighborhoods like Jabriyat, overlooking Jenin refugee camp, makes them particularly vulnerable.
Mayor of Jenin, Mohammad Jarrar, stated that the occupation appears intent on displacing residents and making life difficult through withheld services, aiming to pressure people into leaving their homes voluntarily. Approximately 800 families have been displaced from neighborhoods across Jenin city, excluding the camp itself.