The United Nations on Friday voiced deep concern over Israeli forces’ prolonged military operations in the occupied West Bank, calling it the longest such offensive since the early 2000s.
“In the West Bank, OCHA is continuing to monitor the situation and remains concerned by Israeli forces’ ongoing operations in the north—the longest there since the early 2000s,” UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric stated during a press briefing.
Citing data from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Dujarric highlighted that violence by illegal Israeli settlers remains persistent, with 34 incidents recorded between February 11 and 17—an average of almost five per day.
“In one such incident, Israeli settlers severed agricultural water pipes in Tulkarm governorate, affecting the livelihoods of a dozen Palestinian farmers,” Dujarric reported.
He further revealed that nearly 40 Palestinians near Al Maniya village in Bethlehem were displaced after facing repeated settler attacks over the past year.
Expressing alarm over the mounting restrictions imposed by Israeli authorities, Dujarric warned that these measures are severely disrupting the daily lives of Palestinians across the occupied territory.
According to OCHA, nearly 2,300 Palestinians, including 1,100 children, have been displaced since the start of 2023 due to escalating settler violence and movement restrictions.
For nearly two months, Israeli forces have been conducting military operations in northern West Bank refugee camps, particularly in Jenin, Tulkarem, and Tubas, intensifying tensions in the region.
Earlier on Friday, the Israeli military announced the deployment of three additional battalions to the West Bank following a directive from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for a “strong operation.”