Women Journalists Without Chains (WJWC) has strongly condemned the recent incursion into a Palestinian home in Tulkarm camp by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yisrael Katz, calling it a blatant violation of international law.

The organization asserts that such actions are part of a broader Israeli strategy to forcibly displace Palestinians and seize their land.

WJWC highlighted Israel's continued disregard for international legal decisions, referencing the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling on July 19, 2024, which reaffirmed the illegality of Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories, including the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem. The Israeli Broadcasting Corporation recently released an image of Netanyahu inside a forcibly vacated Palestinian home, surrounded by Israeli soldiers and occupation flags, following a similar raid led by Defense Minister Katz.

The organization dismissed Israeli justifications for these actions, which cited security concerns over the alleged discovery of bus bombs. WJWC emphasized that Israeli military and settler violence in the West Bank predates these incidents and constitutes an ongoing campaign of oppression. Netanyahu’s office has since issued statements urging soldiers to intensify operations in the occupied West Bank, boasting of increased military actions, including demolishing entire streets and targeting Palestinian resistance groups.

Escalating Military and Settlement Activities

The situation in the West Bank has deteriorated further with the Israeli military’s recent deployment of a tank unit in Jenin on February 23, the first such deployment in 22 years. WJWC decried this move as part of a broader campaign of aggression that complements ongoing Israeli actions in Gaza. Palestinians in the West Bank continue to face severe human rights violations, including extrajudicial killings, mass arrests, home demolitions, and attacks on agricultural lands.

Since October 7, 2023, these violations have intensified. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, at least 923 Palestinians, including 180 children, have been killed in the West Bank. In 2024 alone, over 2,200 settler attacks have resulted in 11 Palestinian deaths, while Israeli forces have arrested more than 12,100 Palestinians.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that Israeli forces demolished more than 1,745 Palestinian structures in 2024, including 750 homes, displacing nearly 165,000 individuals, almost half of them children. The demolition campaign has particularly targeted occupied Jerusalem, where 213 buildings, including 114 residences, have been destroyed. Meanwhile, Israel has approved 27,589 new housing units in illegal settlements, including 18,358 in Jerusalem. In June 2024, Israel carried out its largest land seizure since the 1993 Oslo Accords, expropriating 1,270 hectares (3,138 acres) in the West Bank.

A report from the Palestine Liberation Organization’s Negotiations Affairs Department estimates that the Israeli settler population in the West Bank has reached nearly 740,000. WJWC warns that Israel is implementing new policies to solidify its control over Palestinian territories, furthering annexation efforts, particularly in Area C, which remains under Israeli military and civil authority. The Israeli Knesset recently passed a controversial bill allowing Israelis to register ownership of Palestinian land, entrenching settlement expansion.

Forcible Displacement and Destruction in Jenin

Since January 21, Israeli forces have launched a military operation across the West Bank, primarily targeting refugee camps. In Jenin, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) has described the current displacement as the most prolonged since the Second Intifada. Israeli forces have demolished roads and civilian infrastructure with armored bulldozers, conducted airstrikes on homes, and compelled thousands of families to flee.

Reports suggest that Israeli authorities aim to reshape Jenin camp, erasing its historical significance as a symbol of Palestinian displacement. The mayor of Jenin has stated that occupation officials informed the municipality of plans to integrate the camp into the city, effectively eliminating its status as a refugee camp.

International Legal Violations and Calls for Accountability

The ICJ has reaffirmed that Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories is illegal under international law. The court ruled that Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, along with the policies supporting them, violate international statutes. The ICJ has called on Israel to end its occupation, dismantle settlements, provide reparations to Palestinian victims, and allow displaced individuals to return to their homes.

UN experts have denounced Israeli measures such as home demolitions, denial of residency rights, and land confiscations as violations of the international prohibition against annexation by force. They noted that since the ICJ ruling, Israel has escalated military actions, particularly in Gaza and the West Bank, intensifying violence against Palestinian civilians.

WJWC has strongly condemned Israel’s continued military operations and settlement expansion, citing clear violations of the Fourth Geneva Convention. Article 49 of the Geneva Convention prohibits forcible transfers and the displacement of protected persons, classifying such acts as potential war crimes. WJWC asserts that the systematic destruction of Palestinian communities is part of a deliberate effort to empty the land of its indigenous population.

Urgent Appeal to the International Community

WJWC holds the international community, particularly the United States, Britain, and Germany, accountable for their continued military and diplomatic support of Israel. The organization calls for immediate intervention to halt Israeli aggression, ensure accountability for human rights violations, and prevent further forced displacement of Palestinians.

Additionally, WJWC urges international organizations to document Israeli crimes and hold perpetrators accountable, particularly those facing charges before the International Criminal Court. The organization reaffirms its commitment to advocating for Palestinian rights and calls for an end to Israeli occupation in accordance with international law.