Ahlulbayt News Agency: The United Nations has warned that the forcible displacement of Palestinians in the occupied West Bank remains at “high levels,” citing a sharp rise in settler violence and home demolitions that has driven more than 900 Palestinians from their homes since the start of 2026.
UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said the majority of recent displacement cases stem from “settler violence and access restrictions, particularly demolitions,” describing the trend as deeply alarming and increasingly severe in recent weeks.
Speaking at a press briefing, Dujarric said the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs documented more than 50 attacks carried out by Israeli settlers between January 20 and earlier this week. The attacks resulted in Palestinian casualties, damage to property, or both.
He said UN teams are conducting rapid assessments to evaluate damage and humanitarian needs following the incidents, stressing the need for all parties to comply with international humanitarian law, especially obligations related to the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure.
The warning comes amid continued UN criticism of Israel’s failure to fully comply with the humanitarian protocol of the ceasefire agreement in Gaza, in effect since October 10, 2025. The protocol includes provisions for the entry of fuel, humanitarian aid, and equipment needed to remove rubble from devastated areas.
In a related update, Dujarric said more than 18,500 patients in Gaza still require specialized medical treatment that is unavailable locally. He praised the efforts of the World Health Organization and its partners for evacuating eight patients and 17 companions through the Rafah crossing into Egypt.
The UN renewed its call for the reopening of medical referral routes to the occupied West Bank, including occupied Jerusalem, to ease the pressure on Gaza’s overstretched health system.
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