UNRWA chief warns of a 'silent war' and record violence in West Bank

The head of the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees has warned that the occupied West Bank is enduring a "silent war" characterized by record levels of violence from the Israeli military and illegal settlers. UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini stated on Sunday that the situation, which has escalated since October 2023, involves mass displacement, widespread attacks, and a flagrant disregard for international law.

Scale of Violence and Displacement

Lazzarini reported that over 1,000 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank since October 2023, nearly a quarter of them children. He highlighted that tens of thousands remain displaced following Israel's "Iron Wall" operation, marking the largest such displacement since 1967, with their homes being systematically demolished. Settler attacks continue "unabated," he said, intimidating and uprooting Palestinian communities while "impunity reigns."

Recent Military Operations and International Law

The warning follows a large-scale Israeli military incursion in the northern West Bank on January 21, which resulted in numerous fatalities and further displacement. Lazzarini stressed that while global attention has been focused on Gaza, the normalization of violence and violations in the West Bank must stop "before it is too late." This echoes the International Court of Justice's 2024 opinion that declared Israel's occupation illegal and called for the evacuation of settlements.

Official Data and Regional Context

Official Palestinian data indicates that illegal settlers carried out nearly 4,723 attacks in 2025 alone, killing 14 Palestinians and displacing over 1,000 people from Bedouin communities. The total toll since October 2023 stands at at least 1,110 Palestinians killed and 11,500 injured by both the Israeli army and settlers. For nations like Türkiye, a consistent advocate for Palestinian rights, these developments underscore the urgent need for sustained international pressure to uphold humanitarian law and achieve a just, two-state solution.