Humanitarian Snapshot - West Bank | 2005-2023

06 Feb 2020

Overview

The main drivers of humanitarian needs in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, remain the Israeli use of force, the expansion of Israeli settlements and settler violence, demolitions and confiscations, and access and movement restrictions. Each of these factors contributes to loss of life, injury, restrictions on access to livelihoods and essential services and displacement or forced eviction. 2023 was the worst year for Palestinians in the West Bank since 2005 based on the major Protection of Civilians indicators monitored by OCHA and driving humanitarian needs.

Violence in the West Bank has notably escalated since the renewed hostilities between Israeli forces and Palestinian armed groups in Gaza on 7 October, when Palestinian armed groups in Gaza launched thousands of rockets towards Israel and breached the perimeter fence of Gaza in multiple locations. Over 1,200 Israelis and foreign nationals were killed and another 240 were held captive in Gaza. Israel declared a state of war alert and has since begun heavy Israeli bombardments across Gaza, resulting in at least 24,100 Palestinian fatalities and more than 60,800 injuries as of 15 January 2024, according to Ministry of Health in Gaza.

Casualties in the West Bank

Palestinians

1, 648

Total fatalities by both forces and settlers

98, 078

Total injuries by both forces and settlers

Israeli

169

Fatalities

2, 215

Injuries

An additional 6 Israelis and one foreigner were killed and another 61 injures in Israel, by Palestinians or in Palestinian attacks, in the context of the West Bank

Fatalities by context in 2023

309

509

Some 71 per cent of the Palestinian fatalities in the West Bank 2023 occurred during operations carried out by Israeli forces, including incidents involving exchanges of fire between them and Palestinians. Compared with 69 per cent in 2022. Israeli forces carried out over 5,000 operations in 2023. The two deadliest operations were in Nur Shams and Jenin refugee camps in Tulkarm and Jenin, respectively, resulting 13 Palestinian fatalities. This was the highest number of Palestinians killed by Israeli forces in a single operation in the West Bank since OCHA started recording casualties in 2005.

Incidents of Israeli Settlers Violence

Three settler-related incidents per day resulting in casualties or property damage occurred on average in the first seven months of 2023, compared with an average of two per day in 2022. This was the highest daily average of settler-related incidents affecting Palestinians since 2006. Three settler attacks against Palestinians (with or without Israeli forces) per day occurred on average in 2023 compared with an average of two per day in 2022. This is the highest daily average of settler attacks against Palestinians since 2006. Between 7 October and 10 November 2023, the daily average of settler attacks against Palestinians reached seven per day, which was the highest daily average of settler attacks against Palestinians since OCHA started recording settler related violence in 2006.

Displacement and Demolition

9.8K

Structures demolished (2009-2023)

13.5K

People displaced (2009-2023)

Demolitions carried out for lacking Israeli-issued building permits:
855 structures were demolished, displacing 1,153 people, including 581 children.

Destruction of property during operations carried out by Israeli forces in the West Bank:
220 structures demolished during Israeli operations, displacing 911 people, including 388 children.

Destruction of property on punitive grounds in the West Bank:
37 structures demolished on punitive grounds, displacing 173 people, including 70 children.

Israeli settler related violence and access restrictions in the West Bank:
1,539 people, including 756 children have been displaced due to Israeli settler violence and access restrictions.

Displaced people and # of destroyed structures by year

Total structure demolished

Total displaced

Three settler-related incidents per day resulting in casualties or property damage occurred on average in the first seven months of 2023, compared with an average of two per day in 2022. This was the highest daily average of settler-related incidents affecting Palestinians since 2006. Three settler attacks against Palestinians (with or without Israeli forces) per day occurred on average in 2023 compared with an average of two per day in 2022. This is the highest daily average of settler attacks against Palestinians since 2006. Between 7 October and 10 November 2023, the daily average of settler attacks against Palestinians reached seven per day, which was the highest daily average of settler attacks against Palestinians since OCHA started recording settler related violence in 2006.