Heavy machinery rolls in: Israel reshapes West Bank refugee camps

This move is seen as the first step toward altering the geographic layout of the camps, aimed at enabling easier movement of Israeli troops for military operations.

Faisal Salama, the deputy governor of Tulkarm, said that Israeli forces brought in machinery and trucks today under the pretext of “paving and rebuilding roads.”

Salama added that the Israeli regime has destroyed numerous homes in these camps in recent months—completely demolishing around 2,000 housing units.

According to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), roughly 32,000 people have remained displaced since Israel launched continuous military operations on January 21, covering the camps of Jenin, Tulkarm, and Nur Shams.

UNRWA reported that Israeli operations have turned these Palestinian camps into “ghost towns”—places that were once full of life.

Salama noted that thousands of families have been left without shelter as a result of the demolitions, adding that another 4,000 housing units have been damaged.

He emphasized that the roads are being reopened and paved in a way that facilitates only one thing: the movement of the Israeli army inside the camps for purely military objectives.