Geneva – The Palestinian Return Centre (PRC) called on the United Nations Human Rights Council to investigate the escalating patterns of forced displacement in the occupied West Bank, warning of developments on the ground that reflect a growing trend toward the gradual emptying of Palestinian communities in refugee camps, towns, and rural areas. 

This came in an oral statement delivered by the Centre during the General Debate under Item 3 at the 61st session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, held in Geneva from 23 February to 31 March 2026. 

PRC highlighted recent developments in the West Bank, noting that large-scale military operations targeting refugee camps, particularly in Jenin, Tulkarm, and Nur Shams, have displaced tens of thousands of Palestine refugees and caused extensive destruction to housing and civilian infrastructure. 

PRC further noted that, according to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), approximately 33,000 Palestine refugees from the Jenin, Tulkarm, and Nur Shams camps remain forcibly displaced as a result of the ongoing military operation in the northern West Bank since January 2025, and the widespread destruction it has caused to homes and civilian infrastructure. 

PRC also drew attention to humanitarian reporting documenting a concerning rise in the number of Palestinian communities forced to leave their areas due to settler violence, access restrictions, and repeated demolitions, particularly in Area C and pastoral communities. 

The Centre stressed that, taken together, these developments reflect a serious pattern of fragmentation and the gradual emptying of Palestinian communities across the West Bank, raising grave concerns over violations of the international prohibition on the forcible transfer of protected persons under international law. 

In conclusion, PRC urged the Human Rights Council to request the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to investigate and systematically monitor patterns of forced displacement in the occupied West Bank, including refugee camps and rural communities, in order to strengthen international accountability and help bring an end to these escalating violations. 

Watch the statement: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xl2sDH8LP_o