Action For Humanity welcomes what the world is calling a “ceasefire” to the genocide in Gaza, as a moment of desperately needed respite for those who have endured unimaginable suffering. However, the intensified Israeli military activity in the West Bank signals that the violence is far from over. The Israeli military has expanded its strategic objectives to explicitly include the West Bank. Reports indicate significant breaches of human rights and international humanitarian law (IHL) unlawfully targeting civilians through heightened military operations, increased checkpoints and closures, and a sharp rise in settler violence.

Operation Iron Wall, launched this week in the Jenin refugee camp and its surrounding areas, has brought devastating levels of destruction and loss of life. In just a few days, at least 12 Palestinians have been killed, dozens wounded, and entire communities devastated. At least 58,000 Palestinians now face the imminent threat of forcible transfer.

These amplified military operations have brought new layers of hardship, restricting Palestinian freedom of movement and spreading fear of mass displacement, evoking fears of a “Second Naqba”. This use of force in the West Bank is both unlawful and unjustified, echoing the same tactics employed by Israeli forces in Gaza.

These developments are not isolated incidents, nor are they new. They are part of a broader pattern of systemic violence and instability rooted in the illegal occupation of Palestinian land. In 2024 alone, Israel carried out 152 airstrikes in the West Bank, 82 of them targeting refugee camps, while settler violence reached unprecedented levels, with over 1,420 incidents of casualties or property damage reported.

Without addressing the structural injustices of occupation, the region will continue to face cyclical violence, suffering, and instability. The recent shift of violence to the West Bank serves as a stark reminder that ceasefires alone are insufficient without accountability and justice.

Under international law, Israel must end its occupation of Palestinian territory and fully comply with its obligations as an occupying power, including the protection of civilians. The UK government, alongside the international community, must:

• Demand an immediate halt to all military operations in the West Bank.
• Suspend all arms transfers to Israel, including components for F-35 fighter jets sent indirectly to Israel.
• Hold Israel accountable under international law for human rights violations and enforce the International Court of Justice’s Advisory Opinion on the occupation.
• Work to recognise and dismantle the structures of occupation that perpetuate violence and instability.

Notes to editor

Representatives from the organisations are available for interview. For more information contact Jake Marais, PR and Communications Officer for Action For Humanity at jacob.marais@actionforhumanity.org or +447597 486 270.

Action For Humanity provides aid and assistance to people affected by natural and man-made disasters. We are the parent charity of Syria Relief, the UK’s largest Syria-focused humanitarian aid organisation. As an NGO we are guided by our drive to help others, not profit. Based in Manchester, Action For Humanity has operations in Syria, Yemen, Gaza, among others. We have operated in Gaza since 2021, and since the escalation in violence in October 2023, we have supported well over 160,000 people.