40,000 forcibly displaced in occupied West Bank amid Israeli raids: UN

​​​​​​​By Merve Aydogan

HAMILTON, Canada (AA) - The UN on Wednesday reported that 40,000 people have been forced to flee their homes in the occupied West Bank as Israeli operations continue.

"I just wanted to flag a statement from Mr. (Philippe) Lazzarini, head of UNRWA (UN relief agency for Palestinian refugees) who said that more than 50 people, including children, reportedly killed since the Israeli forces operation started five weeks ago in the West Bank," spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said at a news conference.

Dujarric added that "destruction of public infrastructure, bulldozing of roads and access restrictions are seen to be commonplace now," particularly in the northern parts of the occupied territory.

He emphasized that "about 40,000 people have been forced to flee their homes, especially from refugee camps to the north."

"Yesterday, Israeli forces conducted a 14-hour raid in Nablus city, resulting in yet another fatality and multiple injuries," Dujarric said.

During the operation, "Israeli forces closed checkpoints around Nablus, leaving people stranded for several hours," he said.

"We reiterate that in law enforcement, the use of potentially lethal force may only be used when strictly unavoidable to protect life or prevent serious injury," he noted.

The Israeli army has been conducting operations in the northern West Bank since last month, killing at least 60 people and displacing thousands.

The raids were the latest in the military escalation in the West Bank, where at least 923 Palestinians have been killed and nearly 7,000 injured in attacks by the Israeli army and illegal settlers since the start of the onslaught against the Gaza Strip on Oct. 7, 2023, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.

The International Court of Justice declared in July that Israel’s long-standing occupation of Palestinian territories is "unlawful," demanding the evacuation of all settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.