The United Nations confirms that the West Bank recorded the highest rate of displacement during the month
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The United Nations confirmed that “attacks by Israeli settlers in the West Bank have displaced nearly 900 Palestinians since the beginning of 2026,” warning of the continued displacement of Palestinians in the West Bank.
According to figures released by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), based on data collected by several UN agencies, “at least 694 Palestinians were forcibly displaced from their homes last month.”
The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights noted that in late January, settler violence became a major driver of forced displacement in the West Bank.
Displacements saw a particular surge in January, due to the complete displacement of the Ras Ein al-Auja community in the Jordan Valley, where 130 families left their homes after months of harassment.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, said, “This large number of displaced people is largely due to settler violence and access restrictions, particularly through demolitions,” noting that “the phenomenon has escalated alarmingly in recent weeks.”
He added that the UN is conducting initial damage and needs assessments following these incidents to guide the UN humanitarian response, stressing the need for all parties to adhere to international humanitarian law, particularly regarding the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure.
